Product Dispensing System

ABSTRACT

A flow sensor includes a fluid chamber configured to receive a fluid. A diaphragm assembly is configured to be displaced whenever the fluid within the fluid chamber is displaced. A transducer assembly is configured to monitor the displacement of the diaphragm assembly and generate a signal based, at least in part, upon the quantity of fluid displaced within the fluid chamber.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a Continuation of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 13/975,875, filed Aug. 26, 2013 and entitled Product DispensingSystem, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,188,988, issued Nov. 17, 2015 (AttorneyDocket No. L06), which is a Continuation of U.S. patent application Ser.No. 13/339,962, filed Dec. 29, 2011 and entitled Product DispensingSystem, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,516,902, issued Aug. 27, 2013 (AttorneyDocket No. 193), which is a Continuation of U.S. patent application Ser.No. 12/549,778, filed Aug. 28, 2009 and entitled Product DispensingSystem, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,087,303, issued Jan. 3, 2012 (AttorneyDocket No. H63) which claims priority from U.S. Provisional PatentApplication Ser. No. 61/092,404, filed Aug. 28, 2008 and entitledProduct Dispensing System (Attorney Docket No. G40) each of which arehereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

U.S. Pat. No. 8,087,303 is a Continuation-In-Part of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 12/437,356, filed May 7, 2009 and entitled ProductDispensing System, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,146,564, issued Sep. 29, 2015(Attorney Docket No. H32) which is a Continuation-In-Part of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 12/205,762, filed Sep. 5, 2008 and entitled ProductDispensing System, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,322,570, issued Dec. 4, 2012(Attorney Docket No. G45), which claims priority to: U.S. ProvisionalPatent Application Ser. No. 61/092,396, filed Aug. 27, 2008 and entitledRFID System and Method (Attorney Docket No. G35); U.S. ProvisionalPatent Application Ser. No. 61/092,394, filed Aug. 27, 2008 and entitledProcessing System and Method (Attorney Docket No. G36); U.S. ProvisionalPatent Application Ser. No. 61/092,388, filed Aug. 27, 2008 and entitledBeverage Dispensing System (Attorney Docket No. (G37); U.S. ProvisionalPatent Application Ser. No. 60/970,501, filed Sep. 6, 2007 and entitledContent Dispensing System (Attorney Docket No. F40); U.S. ProvisionalPatent Application Ser. No. 60/970,494, filed Sep. 6, 2007 and entitledVirtual Manifold System and Method (Attorney Docket No. F41); U.S.Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/970,493, filed Sep. 6, 2007and entitled FSM System and Method (Attorney Docket No. F42); U.S.Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/970,495, filed Sep. 6, 2007and entitled Virtual Machine System and Method (Attorney Docket No.F43); U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/970,497, filedSep. 6, 2007 and entitled RFID System and Method (Attorney Docket No.F44); U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/054,757, filed May20, 2008 and entitled RFID System and Method (Attorney Docket No. F84);U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/054,629, filed May 20,2008 and entitled Flow Control Module (Attorney Docket No. F85); U.S.Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/054,745, filed May 20, 2008and entitled Capacitance-Based Flow Sensor (Attorney Docket No. F86);and U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/054,776, filed May20, 2008 and entitled Beverage Dispensing System (Attorney Docket No.F87), all of which are also hereby incorporated herein by reference intheir entireties.

U.S. Pat. No. 8,087,303 also relates to U.S. Pat. No. 7,905,373, issuedMar. 15, 2011 and entitled System and Method for Generating a DriveSignal (Attorney Docket No. F45), which is a Continuation-In-Part ofU.S. Pat. No. 7,740,152, issued Jun. 22, 2010 and entitled Pump Systemwith Calibration Curve, which is hereby incorporated herein by referencein its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to processing systems and, moreparticularly, to processing systems that are used to generate productsfrom a plurality of separate ingredients.

BACKGROUND ART

Processing systems may combine one or more ingredients to form aproduct. Unfortunately, such systems are often static in configurationand are only capable of generating a comparatively limited number ofproducts. While such systems may be capable of being reconfigured togenerate other products, such reconfiguration may require extensivechanges to mechanical/electrical/software systems.

For example, in order to make a different product, new components mayneed to be added, such as e.g., new valves, lines, manifolds, andsoftware subroutines. Such extensive modifications may be required dueto existing devices/processes within the processing system beingnon-reconfigurable and having a single dedicated use, thus requiringthat additional components be added to accomplish new tasks.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, in a firstimplementation, a flow sensor includes a fluid chamber configured toreceive a fluid. A diaphragm assembly is configured to be displacedwhenever the fluid within the fluid chamber is displaced. A transducerassembly is configured to monitor the displacement of the diaphragmassembly and generate a signal based, at least in part, upon thequantity of fluid displaced within the fluid chamber.

Some embodiments of this aspect of the present invention may include oneor more of the following features: wherein the transducer assemblycomprising a linear variable differential transformer coupled to thediaphragm assembly by a linkage assembly; wherein the transducerassembly comprising a needle/magnet cartridge assembly; wherein thetransducer assembly comprising a magnetic coil assembly; wherein thetransducer assembly comprising a Hall Effect sensor assembly; whereinthe transducer assembly comprising a piezoelectric buzzer element;wherein the transducer assembly comprising a piezoelectric sheetelement; wherein the transducer assembly comprising an audio speakerassembly; wherein the transducer assembly comprising an accelerometerassembly; wherein the transducer assembly comprising a microphoneassembly; and/or wherein the transducer assembly comprising an opticaldisplacement assembly.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a method fordetermining a product container is empty is disclosed. The methodincludes energizing a pump assembly, pumping a micro-ingredient from aproduct container, displacing a capacitive plate a displacementdistance, measuring the capacitance of a capacitor, calculating thedisplacement distance from the measured capacitance, and determiningwhether the product container is empty.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention a method fordetermining a product container is empty is disclosed. The methodincludes energizing a pump assembly, displacing a diaphragm assembly adisplacement distance by pumping a micro-ingredient from a productcontainer, measuring the displacement distance using a transducerassembly, using the transducer assembly generating a signal based, atleast in part, upon the quantity of micro-ingredient pumped from theproduct container, and determining, using the signal, whether theproduct container is empty.

These aspects of the invention are not meant to be exclusive and otherfeatures, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will bereadily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art when read inconjunction with the appended claims and accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other features and advantages of the present invention will bebetter understood by reading the following detailed description, takentogether with the drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic view of one embodiment of a processing system;

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic view of one embodiment of a control logicsubsystem included within the processing system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic view of one embodiment of a high volumeingredient subsystem included within the processing system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic view of one embodiment of a microingredientsubsystem included within the processing system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5A is a diagrammatic side view of one embodiment of acapacitance-based flow sensor included within the processing system ofFIG. 1 (during a non-pumping condition);

FIG. 5B is a diagrammatic top view of the capacitance-based flow sensorof FIG. 5A;

FIG. 5C is a diagrammatic view of two capacitive plates included withinthe capacitance-based flow sensor of FIG. 5A;

FIG. 5D is a time-dependent graph of the capacitance value of thecapacitance based flow sensor of FIG. 5A (during a non-pumpingcondition, a pumping condition, and an empty condition);

FIG. 5E is a diagrammatic side view of the capacitance-based flow sensorof FIG. 5A (during a pumping condition);

FIG. 5F is a diagrammatic side view of the capacitance-based flow sensorof FIG. 5A (during an empty condition);

FIG. 5G is a diagrammatic side view of an alternative embodiment of theflow sensor of FIG. 5A;

FIG. 5H is a diagrammatic side view of an alternative embodiment of theflow sensor of FIG. 5A;

FIG. 6A is a diagrammatic view of a plumbing/control subsystem includedwithin the processing system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6B is a diagrammatic view of one embodiment of a gear-based,positive displacement flow measuring device;

FIGS. 7A and 7B diagrammatically depict an embodiment of a flow controlmodule of FIG. 3;

FIGS. 8-14C diagrammatically depict various alternative embodiments of aflow control module of FIG. 3;

FIGS. 15A and 15B diagrammatically depict a portion of a variable lineimpedance;

FIG. 15C diagrammatically depicts one embodiment of a variable lineimpedance;

FIGS. 16A and 16B diagrammatically depict a gear of a gear-basedpositive displacement flow measuring device according to one embodiment;and

FIG. 17 is a diagrammatic view of a user interface subsystem includedwithin the processing system of FIG. 1.

FIG. 18 is a flowchart of an FSM process executed by the control logicsubsystem of FIG. 1;

FIG. 19 is a diagrammatic view of a first state diagram;

FIG. 20 is a diagrammatic view of a second state diagram;

FIG. 21 is a flowchart of a virtual machine process executed by thecontrol logic subsystem of FIG. 1;

FIG. 22 is a flowchart of a virtual manifold process executed by thecontrol logic subsystem of FIG. 1;

FIG. 23 is an isometric view of an RFID system included within theprocessing system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 24 is a diagrammatic view of the RFID system of FIG. 23;

FIG. 25 is a diagrammatic view of an RFID antenna assembly includedwithin the RFID system of FIG. 23;

FIG. 26 is an isometric view of an antenna loop assembly of the RFIDantenna assembly of FIG. 25;

FIG. 27 is an isometric view of a housing assembly for housing theprocessing system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 28 is a diagrammatic view of an RFID access antenna assemblyincluded within the processing system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 29 is a diagrammatic view of an alternative RFID access antennaassembly included within the processing system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 30 is a diagrammatic view of an embodiment of the processing systemof FIG. 1;

FIG. 31 is a diagrammatic view of the internal assembly of theprocessing system of FIG. 30;

FIG. 32 is a diagrammatic view of the upper cabinet of the processingsystem of FIG. 30;

FIG. 33 is a diagrammatic view of a flow control subsystem of theprocessing system of FIG. 30;

FIG. 34 is a diagrammatic view of a flow control module of the flowcontrol subsystem of FIG. 33;

FIG. 35 is a diagrammatic view of the upper cabinet of the processingsystem of FIG. 30;

FIGS. 36A and 36B are diagrammatic views of a power module of theprocessing system of FIG. 35;

FIGS. 37A, 37B, and 37C diagrammatically depict a flow control module ofthe flow control subsystem of FIG. 35;

FIG. 38 is a diagrammatic view of the lower cabinet of the processingsystem of FIG. 30;

FIG. 39 is a diagrammatic view of a microingredient tower of the lowercabinet of FIG. 38;

FIG. 40 is a diagrammatic view of a microingredient tower of the lowercabinet of FIG. 38;

FIG. 41 is a diagrammatic view of a quad product module of themicroingredient tower of FIG. 39;

FIG. 42 is a diagrammatic view of a quad product module of themicroingredient tower of FIG. 39;

FIGS. 43A, 43B, and 43C are diagrammatic views of one embodiment of amicroingredient container;

FIG. 44 is a diagrammatic view of another embodiment of amicroingredient container;

FIGS. 45A and 45B diagrammatically depict an alternative embodiment of alower cabinet of the processing system of FIG. 30;

FIGS. 46A, 46B, 46C, and 46D diagrammatically depict one embodiment of amicroingredient shelf of the lower cabinet of FIGS. 45A and 45B.

FIGS. 47A, 47B, 47C, 47D, 47E, and 47F diagrammatically depict a quadproduct module of the microingredient shelf of FIGS. 46A, 46B, 46C, and46D;

FIG. 48 diagrammatically depicts a plumbing assembly of the quad productmodule of FIGS. 47A, 47B, 47C, 47D, 47E, and 47F;

FIG. 49A, 49B, 49C diagrammatically depict a large volumemicroingredient assembly of the lower cabinet of FIGS. 45A and 45B;

FIG. 50 diagrammatically depicts a plumbing assembly of the large volumemicroingredient assembly of FIG. 49A, 49B, 49C;

FIG. 51 diagrammatically depicts one embodiment of a user interfacescreen in a user interface bracket;

FIG. 52 diagrammatically depicts one embodiment of a user interfacebracket without a screen;

FIG. 53 is a detailed side view of the bracket of FIG. 52;

FIGS. 54 and 55 diagrammatically depict a membrane pump;

FIG. 56 is a cross sectional view of one embodiment of a flow controlmodule in a de-energized position;

FIG. 57 is a cross sectional view of one embodiment of a flow controlmodule with the binary valve in an open position;

FIG. 58 is a cross sectional view of one embodiment of a flow controlmodule in a partially energized position;

FIG. 59 is a cross sectional view of one embodiment of a flow controlmodule in a fully energized position;

FIG. 60 is a cross sectional view of one embodiment of a flow controlmodule with an anemometer sensor;

FIG. 61 is a cross sectional view of one embodiment of a flow controlmodule with a paddle wheel sensor;

FIG. 62 is a top cut-away view of one embodiment of the paddle wheelsensor;

FIG. 63 is an isometric view of one embodiment of a flow control module;

FIG. 64 is one embodiment of a dither scheduling scheme; and

FIG. 65 is a cross sectional view of one embodiment of a flow controlmodule in a fully energized position with the fluid flow path indicated.

Like reference symbols in the various drawings indicate like elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS

Described herein is a product dispensing system. The system includes oneor more modular components, also termed “subsystems”. Although exemplarysystems are described herein, in various embodiments, the productdispensing system may include one or more of the subsystems described,but the product dispensing system is not limited to only one or more ofthe subsystems described herein. Thus, in some embodiments, additionalsubsystems may be used in the product dispensing system.

The following disclosure will discuss the interaction and cooperation ofvarious electrical components, mechanical components, electro-mechanicalcomponents, and software processes (i.e., “subsystems”) that allow forthe mixing and processing of various ingredients to form a product.Examples of such products may include but are not limited to:dairy-based products (e.g., milkshakes, floats, malts, frappes);coffee-based products (e.g., coffee, cappuccino, espresso); soda-basedproducts (e.g., floats, soda w/fruit juice); tea-based products (e.g.,iced tea, sweet tea, hot tea); water-based products (e.g., spring water,flavored spring water, spring water w/vitamins, high-electrolyte drinks,high-carbohydrate drinks); solid-based products (e.g., trail mix,granola-based products, mixed nuts, cereal products, mixed grainproducts); medicinal products (e.g., infusible medicants, injectablemedicants, ingestible medicants, dialysates); alcohol-based products(e.g., mixed drinks, wine spritzers, soda-based alcoholic drinks,water-based alcoholic drinks, beer with flavor “shots”); industrialproducts (e.g., solvents, paints, lubricants, stains); and health/beautyaid products (e.g., shampoos, cosmetics, soaps, hair conditioners, skintreatments, topical ointments).

The products may be produced using one or more “ingredients”.Ingredients may include one or more fluids, powders, solids or gases.The fluids, powders, solids, and/or gases may be reconstituted ordiluted within the context of processing and dispensing. The productsmay be a fluid, solid, powder or gas.

The various ingredients may be referred to as “macroingredients”,“microingredients”, or “large volume microingredients”. One or more ofthe ingredients used may be contained within a housing, i.e., part of aproduct dispensing machine. However, one or more of the ingredients maybe stored or produced outside the machine. For example, in someembodiments, water (in various qualities) or other ingredients used inhigh volume may be stored outside of the machine (for example, in someembodiments, high fructose corn syrup may be stored outside themachine), while other ingredients, for example, ingredients in powderform, concentrated ingredients, nutraceuticals, pharmaceuticals and/orgas cylinders may be stored within the machine itself.

Various combinations of the above-referenced electrical components,mechanical components, electro-mechanical components, and softwareprocesses are discussed below. While combinations are described belowthat disclose e.g., the production of beverages and medicinal products(e.g., dialysates) using various subsystems, this is not intended to bea limitation of this disclosure, rather, exemplary embodiments of waysin which the subsystems may work together to create/dispense a product.Specifically, the electrical components, mechanical components,electro-mechanical components, and software processes (each of whichwill be discussed below in greater detail) may be used to produce any ofthe above-referenced products or any other products similar thereto.

Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a generalized view of processingsystem 10 that is shown to include a plurality of subsystems namely:storage subsystem 12, control logic subsystem 14, high volume ingredientsubsystem 16, microingredient subsystem 18, plumbing/control subsystem20, user interface subsystem 22, and nozzle 24. Each of the abovedescribed subsystems 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22 will be described below ingreater detail.

During use of processing system 10, user 26 may select a particularproduct 28 for dispensing (into container 30) using user interfacesubsystem 22. Via user interface subsystem 22, user 26 may select one ormore options for inclusion within such product. For example, options mayinclude but are not limited to the addition of one or more ingredients.In one exemplary embodiment, the system is a system for dispensing abeverage. In this embodiment, the use may select various flavorings(e.g. including but not limited to lemon flavoring, lime flavoring,chocolate flavoring, and vanilla flavoring) to be added into a beverage;the addition of one or more nutraceuticals (e.g. including but notlimited to Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin D, Vitamin E, Vitamin B₆,Vitamin B₁₂, and Zinc) into a beverage; the addition of one or moreother beverages (e.g. including but not limited to coffee, milk,lemonade, and iced tea) into a beverage; and the addition of one or morefood products (e.g. ice cream, yogurt) into a beverage.

Once user 26 makes the appropriate selections, via user interfacesubsystem 22, user interface subsystem 22 may send the appropriate datasignals (via data bus 32) to control logic subsystem 14. Control logicsubsystem 14 may process these data signals and may retrieve (via databus 34) one or more recipes chosen from a plurality of recipes 36maintained on storage subsystem 12. The term “recipe” referring toinstructions for processing/creating the requested product. Uponretrieving the recipe(s) from storage subsystem 12, control logicsubsystem 14 may process the recipe(s) and provide the appropriatecontrol signals (via data bus 38) to e.g. high volume ingredientsubsystem 16, microingredient subsystem 18 (and, in some embodiments,large volume microingredients, not shown, which may be included in thedescription with respect to microingredients with respect to processing.With respect to the subsystems for dispensing these large volumemicroingredients, in some embodiments, an alternate assembly from themicroingredient assembly, may be used to dispense these large volumemicroingredients), and plumbing/control subsystem 20, resulting in theproduction of product 28 (which is dispensed into container 30).

Referring also to FIG. 2, a diagrammatic view of control logic subsystem14 is shown. Control logic subsystem 14 may include microprocessor 100(e.g., an ARM™ microprocessor produced by Intel Corporation of SantaClara, Calif.), nonvolatile memory (e.g. read only memory 102), andvolatile memory (e.g. random access memory 104); each of which may beinterconnected via one or more data/system buses 106, 108. As discussedabove, user interface subsystem 22 may be coupled to control logicsubsystem 14 via data bus 32.

Control logic subsystem 14 may also include an audio subsystem 110 forproviding e.g. an analog audio signal to speaker 112, which may beincorporated into processing system 10. Audio subsystem 110 may becoupled to microprocessor 100 via data/system bus 114.

Control logic subsystem 14 may execute an operating system, examples ofwhich may include but are not limited to Microsoft Windows CE™, RedhatLinux™, Palm OS™, or a device-specific (i.e., custom) operating system.

The instruction sets and subroutines of the above-described operatingsystem, which may be stored on storage subsystem 12, may be executed byone or more processors (e.g. microprocessor 100) and one or more memoryarchitectures (e.g. read-only memory 102 and/or random access memory104) incorporated into control logic subsystem 14.

Storage subsystem 12 may include, for example, a hard disk drive, asolid state drive, an optical drive, a random access memory (RAM), aread-only memory (ROM), a CF (i.e., compact flash) card, an SD (i.e.,secure digital) card, a SmartMedia card, a Memory Stick, and aMultiMedia card, for example.

As discussed above, storage subsystem 12 may be coupled to control logicsubsystem 14 via data bus 34. Control logic subsystem 14 may alsoinclude storage controller 116 (shown in phantom) for converting signalsprovided by microprocessor 100 into a format usable by storage system12. Further, storage controller 116 may convert signals provided bystorage subsystem 12 into a format usable by microprocessor 100.

In some embodiments, an Ethernet connection is also included.

As discussed above, high-volume ingredient subsystem (also referred toherein as “macroingredients”) 16, microingredient subsystem 18, and/orplumbing/control subsystem 20 may be coupled to control logic subsystem14 via data bus 38. Control logic subsystem 14 may include bus interface118 (shown in phantom) for converting signals provided by microprocessor100 into a format usable by high-volume ingredient subsystem 16,microingredient subsystem 18, and/or plumbing/control subsystem 20.Further, bus interface 118 may convert signals provided by high-volumeingredient subsystem 16, microingredient subsystem 18 and/orplumbing/control subsystem 20 into a format usable by microprocessor100.

As will be discussed below in greater detail, control logic subsystem 14may execute one or more control processes 120 (e.g., finite statemachine process (FSM process 122), virtual machine process 124, andvirtual manifold process 126, for example) that may control theoperation of processing system 10. The instruction sets and subroutinesof control processes 120, which may be stored on storage subsystem 12,may be executed by one or more processors (e.g. microprocessor 100) andone or more memory architectures (e.g. read-only memory 102 and/orrandom access memory 104) incorporated into control logic subsystem 14.

Referring also to FIG. 3, a diagrammatic view of high-volume ingredientsubsystem 16 and plumbing/control subsystem 20 are shown. High-volumeingredient subsystem 16 may include containers for housing consumablesthat are used at a rapid rate when making beverage 28. For example,high-volume ingredient subsystem 16 may include carbon dioxide supply150, water supply 152, and high fructose corn syrup supply 154. Thehigh-volume ingredients, in some embodiments, are located within closeproximity to the other subsystems. An example of carbon dioxide supply150 may include, but is not limited to, a tank (not shown) ofcompressed, gaseous carbon dioxide. An example of water supply 152 mayinclude but is not limited to a municipal water supply (not shown), adistilled water supply, a filtered water supply, a reverse-osmosis(“RO”) water supply or other desired water supply. An example of highfructose corn syrup supply 154 may include, but is not limited to, oneor more tank(s) (not shown) of highly-concentrated, high fructose cornsyrup, or one or more bag-in-box packages of high-fructose corn syrup.

High-volume ingredient subsystem 16 may include a carbonator 156 forgenerating carbonated water from carbon dioxide gas (provided by carbondioxide supply 150) and water (provided by water supply 152). Carbonatedwater 158, water 160 and high fructose corn syrup 162 may be provided tocold plate assembly 163 (for example, in embodiments where a product isbeing dispensed in which it may be desired to be cooled. In someembodiments, the cold plate assembly is not included as part of thedispensing systems or may be bi-passed). Cold plate assembly 163 may bedesigned to chill carbonated water 158, water 160, and high fructosecorn syrup 162 down to a desired serving temperature (e.g. 40° F.).

While a single cold plate 163 is shown to chill carbonated water 158,water 160, and high fructose corn syrup 162, this is for illustrativepurposes only and is not intended to be a limitation of disclosure, asother configurations are possible. For example, an individual cold platemay be used to chill each of carbonated water 158, water 160 and highfructose corn syrup 162. Once chilled, chilled carbonated water 164,chilled water 166, and chilled high fructose corn syrup 168 may beprovided to plumbing/control subsystem 20. And in still otherembodiments, a cold plate may not be included. In some embodiments, atleast one hot plate may be included.

Although the plumbing is depicted as having the order shown, in someembodiments, this order is not used. For example, the flow controlmodules described herein may be configured in a different order, i.e.,flow measuring device, binary valve and then variable line impedance.

For descriptive purposes, the system will be described below withreference to using the system to dispense soft drinks as a product,i.e., the macroingredients/high-volume ingredients described willinclude high-fructose corn syrup, carbonated water and water. However,in other embodiments of the dispensing system, the macroingredientsthemselves, and the number of macroingredients, may vary.

For illustrative purposes, plumbing/control subsystem 20 is shown toinclude three flow control modules 170, 172, 174. Flow control modules170, 172, 174 may generally control the volume and/or flow rate ofhigh-volume ingredients. Flow control modules 170, 172, 174 may eachinclude a flow measuring device (e.g., flow measuring devices 176, 178,180), which measure the volume of chilled carbonated water 164, chilledwater 166 and chilled high fructose corn syrup 168 (respectively). Flowmeasuring devices 176, 178, 180 may provide feedback signals 182, 184,186 (respectively) to feedback controller systems 188, 190, 192(respectively).

Feedback controller systems 188, 190, 192 (which will be discussed belowin greater detail) may compare flow feedback signals 182, 184, 186 tothe desired flow volume (as defined for each of chilled carbonated water164, chilled water 166, and chilled high fructose corn syrup 168;respectively). Upon processing flow feedback signals 182, 184, 186,feedback controller systems 188, 190, 192 (respectively) may generateflow control signals 194, 196, 198 (respectively) that may be providedto variable line impedances 200, 202, 204 (respectively). Examples ofvariable line impedances 200, 202, 204 are disclosed and claimed in U.S.Pat. No. 5,755,683 and U.S. Patent Publication No. 2007/0085049, both ofwhich are herein incorporated by reference in their entirety. Variableline impedances 200, 202, 204 may regulate the flow of chilledcarbonated water 164, chilled water 166 and chilled high fructose cornsyrup 168 passing through lines 218, 220, 222 (respectively), which areprovided to nozzle 24 and (subsequently) container 30. However,additional embodiments of the variable line impedances are describedherein.

Lines 218, 220, 222 may additionally include binary valves 212, 214, 216(respectively) for preventing the flow of fluid through lines 218, 220,222 during times when fluid flow is not desired/required (e.g. duringshipping, maintenance procedures, and downtime).

In one embodiment, binary valves 212, 214, 216 may include solenoidoperated binary valves. However, in other embodiments, the binary valvesmay be any binary valve known in the art, including, but not limited toa binary valve actuated by any means. Additionally, binary valves 212,214, 216 may be configured to prevent the flow of fluid through lines218, 220, 222 whenever processing system 10 is not dispensing a product.Further, the functionality of binary valves 212, 214, 216 may beaccomplished via variable line impedances 200, 202, 204 by fully closingvariable line impedances 200, 202, 204, thus preventing the flow offluid through lines 218, 220, 222.

As discussed above, FIG. 3 merely provides an illustrative view ofplumbing/control subsystem 20. Accordingly, the manner in whichplumbing/control subsystem 20 is illustrated is not intended to be alimitation of this disclosure, as other configurations are possible. Forexample, some or all of the functionality of feedback controller systems182, 184, 186 may be incorporated into control logic subsystem 14. Also,with respect to the flow control modules 170, 172, 174, the sequentialconfiguration of the components are shown in FIG. 3 for illustrationpurposes only. Thus, the sequential configuration shown serves merely asan exemplary embodiment. However, in other embodiments, the componentsmay be arranged in a different sequence.

Referring also to FIG. 4, a diagrammatic top-view of microingredientsubsystem 18 and plumbing/control subsystem 20 is shown. Microingredientsubsystem 18 may include product module assembly 250, which may beconfigured to releasably engage one or more product containers 252, 254,256, 258, which may be configured to hold microingredients for use whenmaking product 28. The microingredients are substrates that are used inmaking the product Examples of such micro ingredients/substrates mayinclude but are not limited to a first portion of a soft drinkflavoring, a second portion of a soft drink flavoring, coffee flavoring,nutraceuticals, pharmaceuticals, and may be fluids, powders or solids.However for illustrative purposes, the description below refers tomicroingredients that are fluids. In some embodiments, where themicroingredients are powders or solids. Where a microingredient is apowder, the system may include an additional subsystem for metering thepowder and/or reconstituting the powder (although, as described inexamples below, where the microingredient is a powder, the powder may bereconstituted as part of the methods of mixing the product, i.e., thesoftware manifold).

Product module assembly 250 may include a plurality of slot assemblies260, 262, 264, 266 configured to releasably engage plurality of productcontainers 252, 254, 256, 258. In this particular example, productmodule assembly 250 is shown to include four slot assemblies (namelyslots 260, 262, 264, 266) and, therefore, may be referred to as a quadproduct module assembly. When positioning one or more of productcontainers 252, 254, 256, 258 within product module assembly 250, aproduct container (e.g. product container 254) may be slid into a slotassembly (e.g. slot assembly 262) in the direction of arrow 268.Although as shown herein, in the exemplary embodiment, a “quad productmodule” assembly is described, in other embodiments, more or lessproduct may be contained within a module assembly. Depending on theproduct being dispensed by the dispensing system, the numbers of productcontainers may vary. Thus, the numbers of product contained within anymodule assembly may be application specific, and may be selected tosatisfy any desired characteristic of the system, including, but notlimited to, efficiency, necessity and/or function of the system.

For illustrative purposes, each slot assembly of product module assembly250 is shown to include a pump assembly. For example, slot assembly 252is shown to include pump assembly 270; slot assembly 262 is shown toinclude pump assembly 272; slot assembly 264 is shown to include pumpassembly 274; and slot assembly 266 is shown to include pump assembly276.

An inlet port, coupled to each of pump assemblies 270, 272, 274, 276,may releasably engage a product orifice included within the productcontainer. For example, pump assembly 272 is shown to include inlet port278 that is configured to releasably engage container orifice 280included within product container 254. Inlet port 278 and/or productorifice 280 may include one or more sealing assemblies (not shown), forexample, one or more o-rings or a luer fitting, to facilitate aleak-proof seal. The inlet port (e.g., inlet port 278) coupled to eachpump assembly may be constructed of a rigid “pipe-like” material or maybe constructed from a flexible “tubing-like” material.

An example of one or more of pump assemblies 270, 272, 274, 276 mayinclude, but is not limited to, a solenoid piston pump assembly thatprovides a calibratedly expected volume of fluid each time that one ormore of pump assemblies 270, 272, 274, 276 are energized. In oneembodiment, such pumps are available from ULKA CostruzioniElettromeccaniche S.p.A. of Pavia, Italy. For example, each time a pumpassembly (e.g. pump assembly 274) is energized by control logicsubsystem 14 via data bus 38, the pump assembly may provideapproximately 30 μL of the fluid microingredient included within productcontainer 256 (however, the volume of flavoring provided may varycalibratedly). Again, for illustrative purposes only, themicroingredients are fluids in this section of the description. The term“calibratedly” refers to volumetric, or other information and/orcharacteristics, that may be ascertained via calibration of the pumpassembly and/or individual pumps thereof.

Other examples of pump assemblies 270, 272, 274, 276 and various pumpingtechniques are described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,808,161; U.S. Pat. No.4,826,482; U.S. Pat. No. 4,976,162; U.S. Pat. No. 5,088,515; and U.S.Pat. No. 5,350,357, all of which are incorporated herein by reference intheir entireties. In some embodiments, the pump assembly may be amembrane pump as shown in FIGS. 54-55. In some embodiments, the pumpassembly may be any of the pump assemblies and may use any of the pumptechniques described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,421,823 which is hereinincorporated by reference in its entirety.

The above-cited references describe non-limiting examples ofpneumatically actuated membrane-based pumps that may be used to pumpfluids. A pump assembly based on a pneumatically actuated membrane maybe advantageous, for one or more reasons, including but not limited to,ability to deliver quantities, for example, microliter quantities offluids of various compositions reliably and precisely over a largenumber of duty cycles; and/or because the pneumatically actuated pumpmay require less electrical power because it may use pneumatic power,for example, from a carbon dioxide source. Additionally, amembrane-based pump may not require a dynamic seal, in which the surfacemoves with respect to the seal. Vibratory pumps such as thosemanufactured by ULKA generally require the use of dynamic elastomericseals, which may fail over time for example, after exposure to certaintypes of fluids and/or wear. In some embodiments, pneumatically-actuatedmembrane-based pumps may be more reliable, cost effective and easier tocalibrate than other pumps. They may also produce less noise, generateless heat and consume less power than other pumps. A non-limitingexample of a membrane-based pump is shown in FIG. 54.

The various embodiments of the membrane-based pump assembly 2900, shownin FIGS. 54-55, include a cavity, which in FIG. 54 is 2942, which mayalso be referred to as a pumping chamber, and in FIG. 55 is 2944, whichmay also be referred to as a control fluid chamber. The cavity includesa diaphragm 2940 which separates the cavity into the two chambers, thepumping chamber 2942 and the volume chamber 2944.

Referring now to FIG. 54, a diagrammatic depiction of an exemplarymembrane-based pump assembly 2900 is shown. In this embodiment, themembrane-based pump assembly 2900 includes membrane or diaphragm 2940,pumping chamber 2942, control fluid chamber 2944 (best seen in FIG. 55),a three-port switching valve 2910 and check valves 2920 and 2930. Insome embodiments, the volume of pumping chamber 2942 may be in the rangeof approximately 20 microliters to approximately 500 microliters. In anexemplary embodiment, the volume of pumping chamber 2942 may be in therange of approximately 30 microliters to approximately 250 microliters.In other exemplary embodiments, the volume of pumping chamber 2942 maybe in the range of approximately 40 microliters to approximately 100microliters.

Switching valve 2910 may be operated to place pump control channel 2958either in fluid communication with switching valve fluid channel 2954,or switching valve fluid channel 2956. In a non-limiting embodiment,switching valve 2910 may be an electromagnetically operated solenoidvalve, operating on electrical signal inputs via control lines 2912. Inother non-limiting embodiments, switching valve 2910 may be a pneumaticor hydraulic membrane-based valve, operating on pneumatic or hydraulicsignal inputs. In yet other embodiments, switching valve 2910 may be afluidically, pneumatically, mechanically or electromagnetically actuatedpiston within a cylinder. More generally, any other type of valve may becontemplated for use in pump assembly 2900, with preference that thevalve is capable of switching fluid communication with pump controlchannel 2958 between switching valve fluid channel 2954 and switchingvalve fluid channel 2956.

In some embodiments, switching valve fluid channel 2954 is ported to asource of positive fluid pressure (which can be pneumatic or hydraulic).The amount of fluid pressure required may depend on one or more factors,including, but not limited to, the tensile strength and elasticity ofdiaphragm 2940, the density and/or viscosity of the fluid being pumped,the degree of solubility of dissolved solids in the fluid, and/or thelength and size of the fluid channels and ports within pump assembly2900. In various embodiments, the fluid pressure source may be in therange of approximately 15 psi to approximately 250 psi. In an exemplaryembodiment, the fluid pressure source may be in the range ofapproximately 60 psi to approximately 100 psi. In another exemplaryembodiment, the fluid pressure source may be in the range ofapproximately 70 psi to approximately 80 psi. As discussed above, someembodiments of the dispensing system may product carbonated beveragesand thus, may use, as an ingredient, carbonated water. In theseembodiments, the gas pressure of CO2 used to generate carbonatedbeverages is often approximately 75 psi, the same source of gas pressuremay also be regulated lower and used in some embodiments to drive amembrane-based pump for pumping small quantities of fluids in a beveragedispenser.

In response to the appropriate signal provided via control lines 2912,valve 2910 may place switching valve fluid channel 2954 into fluidcommunication with pump control channel 2958. Positive fluid pressurecan thus be transmitted to diaphragm 2940, which in turn can force fluidin pumping chamber 2942 out through pump outlet channel 2950. Checkvalve 2930 ensures that the pumped fluid is prevented from flowing outof pumping chamber 2942 through inlet channel 2952.

Switching valve 2910 via control lines 2912 may place the pump controlchannel 2958 into fluid communication with switching valve fluid channel2956, which may cause the diaphragm 2940 to reach the wall of thepumping chamber 2942 (as shown in FIG. 54). In an embodiment, switchingvalve fluid channel 2956 may be ported to a vacuum source, which whenplaced in fluid communication with pump control channel 2958, may causediaphragm 2940 to retract, reducing the volume of pump control chamber2944, and increasing the volume of pumping chamber 2942. Retraction ofdiaphragm 2940 causes fluid to be pulled into pumping chamber 2942 viapump inlet channel 2952. Check valve 2920 prevents reverse flow ofpumped fluid back into pumping chamber 2942 via outlet channel 2950.

In an embodiment, diaphragm 2940 may be constructed of semi-rigidspring-like material, imparting on the diaphragm a tendency to maintaina curved or spheroidal shape, and acting as a cup-shaped diaphragm typespring. For example, diaphragm 2940 may be constructed or stamped atleast partially from a thin sheet of metal, the metal that may be usedincludes but is not limited to high carbon spring steel, nickel-silver,high-nickel alloys, stainless steel, titanium alloys, beryllium copper,and the like. Pump assembly 2900 may be constructed so that the convexsurface of diaphragm 2940 faces the pump control chamber 2944 and/or thepump control channel 2958. Thus, diaphragm 2940 may have a naturaltendency to retract after it is pressed against the surface of pumpingchamber 2942. In this circumstance, switching valve fluid channel 2956can be ported to ambient (atmospheric) pressure, allowing diaphragm 2940to automatically retract and draw fluid into pumping chamber 2942 viapump inlet channel 2952. In some embodiments the concave portion of thespring-like diaphragm defines a volume equal to, orsubstantially/approximately equal to the volume of fluid to be deliveredwith each pump stroke. This has the advantage of eliminating the needfor constructing a pumping chamber having a defined volume, the exactdimensions of which may be difficult and/or expensive to manufacturewithin acceptable tolerances. In this embodiment, the pump controlchamber is shaped to accommodate the convex side of the diaphragm atrest, and the geometry of the opposing surface may be any geometry,i.e., may not be relevant to performance.

In an embodiment, the volume delivered by a membrane pump may beperformed in an ‘open-loop’ manner, without the provision of a mechanismto sense and verify the delivery of an expected volume of fluid witheach stroke of the pump. In another embodiment, the volume of fluidpumped through the pump chamber during a stroke of the membrane may bemeasured using a Fluid Management System (“FMS”) technique, described ingreater detail in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,808,161; 4,826,482; 4,976,162;5,088,515; and 5,350,357, all of which are hereby incorporated herein byreference in their entireties. Briefly, FMS measurement is used todetect the volume of fluid delivered with each stroke of themembrane-based pump. A small fixed reference air chamber is locatedoutside of the pump assembly, or example in a pneumatic manifold (notshown). A valve isolates the reference chamber and a second pressuresensor. The stroke volume of the pump may be precisely computed bycharging the reference chamber with air, measuring the pressure, andthen opening the valve to the pumping chamber. The volume of air on thechamber side may be computed based on the fixed volume of the referencechamber and the change in pressure when the reference chamber wasconnected to the pump chamber. In some embodiments, the volume of fluidpumped through the pump chamber during a stroke of the membrane may bemeasured using an Acoustic Volume Sensing (“AVS”) technique. Acousticvolume measurement technology is the subject of U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,575,310and 5,755,683 assigned to DEKA Products Limited Partnership, as well asU.S. Patent Application Publication Nos. US 2007/0228071 A1, US2007/0219496 A1, US 2007/0219480 A1, US 2007/0219597 A1 and WO2009/088956, all of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference.Fluid volume sensing in the nanoliter range is possible with thisembodiment, thus contributing to highly accurate and precise monitoringof the volume pumped. Other alternate techniques for measuring fluidflow may also be used; for example, Doppler-based methods; the use ofHall-effect sensors in combination with a vane or flapper valve; the useof a strain beam (for example, related to a flexible member over a fluidchamber to sense deflection of the flexible member); the use ofcapacitive sensing with plates; or thermal time of flight methods.

Product module assembly 250 may be configured to releasably engagebracket assembly 282. Bracket assembly 282 may be a portion of (andrigidly fixed within) processing system 10. Although referred to hereinas a “bracket assembly”, the assembly may vary in other embodiments. Thebracket assembly serves to secure the product module assembly 282 in adesired location. An example of bracket assembly 282 may include but isnot limited to a shelf within processing system 10 that is configured toreleasably engage product module 250. For example, product module 250may include an engagement device (e.g. a clip assembly, a slot assembly,a latch assembly, a pin assembly; not shown) that is configured toreleasably engage a complementary device that is incorporated intobracket assembly 282.

Plumbing/control subsystem 20 may include manifold assembly 284 that maybe rigidly affixed to bracket assembly 282. Manifold assembly 284 may beconfigured to include a plurality of inlet ports 286, 288, 290, 292 thatare configured to releasably engage a pump orifice (e.g. pump orifices294, 296, 298, 300) incorporated into each of pump assemblies 270, 272,274, 276. When positioning product module 250 on bracket assembly 282,product module 250 may be moved in the direction of the arrow 302, thusallowing for inlet ports 286, 288, 290, 292 to releasably engage pumporifices 294, 296, 298, 300 (respectively). Inlet ports 286, 288, 290,292 and/or pump orifices 294, 296, 298, 300 may include one or moreo-ring or other sealing assemblies as described above (not shown) tofacilitate a leak-proof seal. The inlet ports (e.g., inlet ports 286,288, 290, 292) included within manifold assembly 284 may be constructedof a rigid “pipe-like” material or may be constructed from a flexible“tubing-like” material.

Manifold assembly 284 may be configured to engage tubing bundle 304,which may be plumbed (either directly or indirectly) to nozzle 24. Asdiscussed above, high-volume ingredient subsystem 16 also providesfluids in the form of, in at least one embodiment, chilled carbonatedwater 164, chilled water 166 and/or chilled high fructose corn syrup 168(either directly or indirectly) to nozzle 24. Accordingly, as controllogic subsystem 14 may regulate (in this particular example) thespecific quantities of the various high-volume ingredients e.g. chilledcarbonated water 164, chilled water 166, chilled high fructose cornsyrup 168 and the quantities of the various micro ingredients (e.g. afirst substrate (i.e., flavoring, a second substrate (i.e., anutraceutical, and a third substrate (i.e., a pharmaceutical), controllogic subsystem 14 may accurately control the makeup of product 28.

As discussed above, one or more of pump assemblies 270, 272, 274, 276may be a solenoid piston pump assembly that provides a defined andconsistent amount of fluid each time that one or more of pump assemblies270, 272, 274, 276 are energized by control logic subsystem 14 (via databus 38). Further and as discussed above, control logic subsystem 14 mayexecute one or more control processes 120 that may control the operationof processing system 10. An example of such a control process mayinclude a drive signal generation process (not shown) for generating adrive signal that may be provided from control logic subsystem 14 topump assemblies 270, 272, 274, 276 via data bus 38. One exemplarymethodology for generating the above-described drive signal is disclosedin U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/851,344, entitled SYSTEM ANDMETHOD FOR GENERATING A DRIVE SIGNAL, which was filed on 6 Sep. 2007,the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

Although FIG. 4 depicts one nozzle 24, in various other embodiments,more than one nozzle 24 may be included. In some embodiments, more thanone container 30 may receive product dispensed from the system, forexample, via more than one set tubing bundles. Thus, in someembodiments, the dispensing system may be configured such that one ormore users may request one or more products to be dispensedconcurrently.

Capacitance-based flow sensors 306, 308, 310, 312 may be utilized tosense flow of the above-described microingredients through each of pumpassemblies 270, 272, 274, 276.

Referring also to FIG. 5A (side view) and FIG. 5B (top view), a detailedview of exemplary capacitance-based flow sensor 308 is shown.Capacitance-based flow sensor 308 may include first capacitive plate 310and second capacitive plate 312. Second capacitive plate 312 may beconfigured to be movable with respect to first capacitive plate 310. Forexample, first capacitive plate 310 may be rigidly affixed to astructure within processing system 10. Further, capacitance-based flowsensor 308 may also be rigidly affixed to a structure within processingsystem 10. However, second capacitive plate 312 may be configured to bemovable with respect to first capacitive plate 310 (andcapacitance-based flow sensor 308) through the use of diaphragm assembly314. Diaphragm assembly 314 may be configured to allow for thedisplacement of second capacitive plate 312 in the direction of arrow316. Diaphragm assembly 314 may be constructed of various materials thatallow for displacement in the direction of arrow 316. For example,diaphragm assembly 314 may be constructed out of a stainless steel foilwith a PET (i.e., Polyethylene Terephthalate) coating to preventcorrosion of the stainless steel foil. Alternatively, diaphragm assembly314 may be constructed of a titanium foil. Further still, diaphragmassembly 314 may be constructed of a plastic in which one surface of theplastic diaphragm assembly is metalized to form second capacitive plate312. In some embodiments, the plastic may be, but is not limited to, aninjection molded plastic or a PET rolled sheet.

As discussed above, each time a pump assembly (e.g. pump assembly 272)is energized by control logic subsystem 14 via data bus 38, the pumpassembly may provide a calibrated volume of fluid, for example 30-33 μL,of the appropriate microingredient included within e.g., productcontainer 254. Accordingly, control logic subsystem 14 may control theflow rate of the microingredients by controlling the rate at which theappropriate pump assembly is energized. An exemplary rate of energizinga pump assembly is between 3 Hz (i.e. three times per second) to 30 Hz(i.e. 30 times per second).

Accordingly, when pump assembly 272 is energized, a suction is created(within chamber 318 of capacitance-based flow sensor 308) thateffectuates drawing of the appropriate microingredient (e.g. asubstrate) from e.g. product container 254. Therefore, upon pumpassembly 272 being energized and creating a suction within chamber 318,second capacitive plate 312 may be displaced downward (with respect toFIG. 5A), thus increasing distance “d” (i.e. the distance between firstcapacitive plate 310 and second capacitive plate 312).

Referring also to FIG. 5C and as is known in the art, the capacitance(C) of a capacitor is determined according to the following equation:

$C = \frac{ɛ\; A}{d}$

wherein “∈” is the permittivity of the dielectric material positionedbetween first capacitive plate 310 and second capacitive plate 312; “A”is the area of the capacitive plates; and “d” is the distance betweenfirst capacitive plate 310 and second capacitive plate 312. As “d” ispositioned in the denominator of the above-described equation, anyincrease in “d” results in a corresponding decrease in “C” (i.e. thecapacitance of the capacitor).

Continuing with the above-stated example and referring also to FIG. 5D,assume that when pump assembly 272 is not energized, the capacitorformed by first capacitive plate 310 and second capacitive plate 312 hasa value of 5.00 pF. Further assume that when pump assembly 272 isenergized at time T=1, a suction is created within chamber 316 that issufficient to displace second capacitive plate 312 downward a distancesufficient to result in a 20% reduction in the capacitance of thecapacitor formed by first capacitive plate 310 and second capacitiveplate 312. Accordingly, the new value of the capacitor formed by firstcapacitive plate 310 and second capacitive plate 312 may be 4.00 pF. Anillustrative example of a second capacitive plate 312 being displaceddownward during the above-described pumping sequence is shown in FIG.5E.

As the appropriate microingredient is drawn from product container 254,the suction within chamber 318 may be reduced and second capacitiveplate 312 may be displaced upward to its original position (as shown inFIG. 5A). As second capacitive plate 312 is displaced upward, thedistance between second capacitive plate 312 and first capacitive plate310 may be reduced back to its initial value. Accordingly, thecapacitance of the capacitor formed by first capacitive plate 310 andsecond capacitive plate 312 may once again be 5.00 pF. When secondcapacitive plate 312 is moving upward and returning to its initialposition, the momentum of second capacitive plate 312 may result insecond capacitive plate 312 overshooting its initial position andmomentarily being positioned closer to first capacitive plate 310 thenduring the initial position of the second capacitive plate 312 (as shownin FIG. 5A). Accordingly, the capacitance of the capacitor formed byfirst capacitive plate 310 and second capacitive plate 312 maymomentarily increase above its initial value of 5.00 pF and shortlythereafter stabilize at 5.00 pF.

The above-described varying of the capacitance value of between (in thisexample) 5.00 pF and 4.00 pF while pump assembly 272 is repeatedlycycled on and off may continue until e.g. product container 254 isempty. Assume for illustrative purposes that product container 254 isemptied at time T=5. At this point in time, second capacitive plate 312may not return to its original position (as shown in FIG. 5A). Further,as pump assembly 272 continues to be cycled, second capacitive plate 312may continue to be drawn downward until second capacitive plate 312 canno longer be displaced (as shown in FIG. 5F). At this point in time, dueto the increase in distance “d” over and above that illustrated in FIG.5A and FIG. 5E, the capacitance value of the capacitor formed by firstcapacitive plate 310 and second capacitive plate 312 may be minimized tominimum capacitance value 320. The actual value of minimum capacitancevalue 320 may vary depending upon the flexibility of diaphragm assembly314.

Accordingly, by monitoring the variations in the capacitance value(e.g., absolute variations or peak-to-peak variations) of the capacitorformed by first capacitive plate 310 and second capacitive plate 312,the proper operation of e.g. pump assembly 272 may be verified. Forexample, if the above-described capacitance value cyclically variesbetween 5.00 pF and 4.00 pF, this variation in capacitance may beindicative of the proper operation of pump assembly 272 and a nonemptyproduct container 254. However, in the event that the above-describedcapacitance value does not vary (e.g. remains at 5.00 pF), this may beindicative of a failed pump assembly 272 (e.g., a pump assembly thatincludes failed mechanical components and/or failed electricalcomponents) or a blocked nozzle 24.

Further, in the event that the above-described capacitance valuedecreases to a point below 4.00 pF (e.g. to minimum capacitance value320), this may be indicative of product container 254 being empty.Additionally still, in the event that the peak-to-peak variation is lessthan expected (e.g., less than the above-described 1.00 pF variation),this may be indicative of a leak between product container 254 andcapacitance-based flow sensor 308.

To determine the capacitance value of the capacitor formed by firstcapacitive plate 310 and second capacitive plate 312, a signal may beprovided (via conductors 322, 324) to capacitance measurement system326. The output of capacitance measurement system 326 may be provided tocontrol logic subsystem 14. An example of capacitance measurement system326 may include the CY8C21434-24LFXI PSOC offered by CypressSemiconductor of San Jose, Calif., the design and operation of which aredescribed within the “CSD User Module” published by CypressSemiconductor, which is incorporated herein by reference. Capacitancemeasurement circuit 326 may be configured to provide compensation forenvironmental factors (e.g., temperature, humidity, and power supplyvoltage change).

Capacitance measurement system 326 may be configured to take capacitancemeasurements (with respect to the capacitor formed with first capacitiveplate 310 and second capacitive plate 312) over a defined period of timeto determine if the above-described variations in capacitance areoccurring. For example, capacitance measurement system 326 may beconfigured to monitor changes in the above-described capacitance valuethat occur over the time frame of 0.50 seconds. Accordingly and in thisparticular example, as long as pump assembly 272 is being energized at aminimum rate of 2.00 Hz (i.e., at least once every 0.50 seconds), atleast one of the above-described capacitance variations should be sensedby capacitance measurement system 326 during each 0.50 secondmeasurement cycle.

While flow sensor 308 is described above as being capacitance-based,this is for illustrative purposes only and is not intended to be alimitation of this disclosure, as other configurations are possible andare considered to be within the scope of this disclosure.

For example and referring also to FIG. 5G, assume for illustrativepurposes that flow sensor 308 does not include first capacitive plate310 and second capacitive plate 312. Alternatively, flow sensor 308 mayinclude transducer assembly 328 that may be (directly or indirectly)coupled to diaphragm assembly 314. If directly coupled, transducerassembly 328 may be mounted on/attached to diaphragm assembly 314.Alternatively, if indirectly coupled, transducer assembly 328 may becoupled to diaphragm assembly 314 with e.g., linkage assembly 330.

As discussed above, as fluid is displaced through chamber 318, diaphragmassembly 314 may be displaced. For example, diaphragm assembly 314 maymove in the direction of arrow 316. Additionally/alternatively,diaphragm assembly 314 may distort (e.g., become slightly concave/convex(as illustrated via phantom diaphragm assemblies 332, 334. As is knownin the art, whether: (a) diaphragm assembly 314 remains essentiallyplanar while being displaced in the direction of arrow 316; (b) flexesto become convex diaphragm assembly 332/concave diaphragm assembly 334while remaining stationary with respect to arrow 316; or (c) exhibits acombination of both forms of displacement, may depend upon a pluralityof factors (e.g., the rigidity of various portions of diaphragm assembly314). Accordingly, by utilizing transducer assembly 328 (in combinationwith linkage assembly 330 and/or transducer measurement system 336) tomonitor the displacement of all or a portion of diaphragm assembly 314,the quantity of fluid displaced through chamber 318 may be determined.

Through the use of various types of transducer assemblies (to bediscussed below in greater detail), the quantity of fluid passingthrough chamber 318 may be determined.

For example, transducer assembly 328 may include a linear variabledifferential transformer (LVDT) and may be rigidly affixed to astructure within processing system 10, which may be coupled to diaphragmassembly 314 via linkage assembly 330. An illustrative and non-limitingexample of such an LVDT is an SE 750 100 produced by Macro Sensors ofPennsauken, N.J. Flow sensor 308 may also be rigidly affixed to astructure within processing system 10. Accordingly, if diaphragmassembly 314 is displaced (e.g., along arrow 316 or flexed to becomeconvex/concave), the movement of diaphragm assembly 314 may bemonitored. Therefore, the quantity of fluid passing through chamber 318may also be monitored. Transducer assembly 328 (i.e., which includesLVDT) may generate a signal that may be processed (e.g.,amplified/converted/filtered) by transducer measurement system 336. Thisprocessed signal may then be provided to control logic subsystem 14 andused to ascertain the quantity of fluid passing through chamber 318.

Alternatively, transducer assembly 328 may include a needle/magneticcartridge assembly (e.g., such as a phonograph needle/magnetic cartridgeassembly) and may be rigidly affixed to a structure within processingsystem 10. An illustrative and non-limiting example of such aneedle/magnetic cartridge assembly is a N 16 D produced by ToshibaCorporation of Japan Transducer assembly 328 may be coupled to diaphragmassembly 314 via linkage assembly 330 (e.g., a rigid rod assembly). Theneedle of transducer assembly 328 may be configured to contact thesurface of linkage assembly 330 (i.e., the rigid rod assembly).Accordingly, as diaphragm assembly 314 is displaced/flexes (as discussedabove), linkage assembly 330 (i.e., rigid rod assembly) is alsodisplaced (in the direction of arrow 316) and may rub against the needleof transducer assembly 328. Therefore, the combination of transducerassembly 328 (i.e., the needle/magnetic cartridge) and linkage assembly330 (i.e., the rigid rod assembly) may generate a signal that may beprocessed (e.g., amplified/converted/filtered) by transducer measurementsystem 336. This processed signal may then be provided to control logicsubsystem 14 and used to ascertain the quantity of fluid passing throughchamber 318.

Alternatively, transducer assembly 328 may include a magnetic coilassembly (e.g., similar to a voice coil of a speaker assembly) and maybe rigidly affixed to a structure within processing system 10. Anillustrative and non-limiting example of such a magnetic coil assemblyis a 5526-1 produced by API Delevan Inc. of East Aurora, N.Y. Transducerassembly 328 may be coupled to diaphragm assembly 314 via linkageassembly 330, which may include an axial magnet assembly. Anillustrative and non-limiting example of such an axial magnet assemblyis a D16 produced by K & J Magnetics, Inc. of Jamison, Pa. The axialmagnet assembly included within linkage assembly 330 may be configuredto slide coaxially within the magnetic coil assembly of transducerassembly 328. Accordingly, as diaphragm assembly 314 is displaced/flexes(as discussed above), linkage assembly 330 (i.e., the axial magnetassembly) is also displaced (in the direction of arrow 316). As is knownin the art, the movement of an axial magnet assembly within a magneticcoil assembly induces a current within the windings of the magnetic coilassembly. Accordingly, the combination of the magnetic coil assembly(not shown) of transducer assembly 328 and the axial magnet assembly(not shown) of linkage assembly 330 may generate a signal that may beprocessed (e.g., amplified/converted/filtered) and then provided tocontrol logic subsystem 14 and used to ascertain the quantity of fluidpassing through chamber 318.

Alternatively, transducer assembly 328 may include a Hall Effect sensorassembly and may be rigidly affixed to a structure within processingsystem 10. An illustrative and non-limiting example of such a HallEffect sensor assembly is a ABOiKUA-T produced by Allegro MicrosystemsInc. of Worcester, Mass. Transducer assembly 328 may be coupled todiaphragm assembly 314 via linkage assembly 330, which may include anaxial magnet assembly. An illustrative and non-limiting example of suchan axial magnet assembly is a D16 produced by K & J Magnetics, Inc. ofJamison, Pa. The axial magnet assembly included within linkage assembly330 may be configured to be positioned proximate the Hall Effect sensorassembly of transducer assembly 328. Accordingly, as diaphragm assembly314 is displaced/flexes (as discussed above), linkage assembly 330(i.e., the axial magnet assembly) is also displaced (in the direction ofarrow 316). As is known in the art, a Hall Effect sensor assembly is anassembly that generates an output voltage signal that varies in responseto changes in a magnetic field. Accordingly, the combination of the HallEffect sensor assembly (not shown) of transducer assembly 328 and theaxial magnet assembly (not shown) of linkage assembly 330 may generate asignal that may be processed (e.g., amplified/converted/filtered) andthen provided to control logic subsystem 14 and used to ascertain thequantity of fluid passing through chamber 318.

Piezoelectric, as used herein, refers to any material which exhibits apiezoelectric effect. The materials may include, but are not limited to,the following: ceramic, films, metals, crystals.

Alternatively, transducer assembly 328 may include a piezoelectricbuzzer element that may be directly coupled to diaphragm assembly 314.Accordingly, linkage assembly 330 may not be utilized. An illustrativeand non-limiting example of such a piezoelectric buzzer element is aKBS-13DA-12A produced by AVX Corporation of Myrtle Beach, S.C. As isknown in the art, a piezoelectric buzzer element may generate anelectrical output signal that varies depending on the amount ofmechanical stress that the piezoelectric buzzer element is exposed to.Accordingly, as diaphragm assembly 314 is displaced/flexes (as discussedabove), the piezoelectric buzzer element (included within transducerassembly 328) may be exposed to mechanical stress and, therefore, maygenerate a signal that may be processed (e.g.,amplified/converted/filtered) by transducer measurement system 336. Thisprocessed signal may then be provided to control logic subsystem 14 andused to ascertain the quantity of fluid passing through chamber 318.

Alternatively, transducer assembly 328 may include a piezoelectric sheetelement that may be directly coupled to diaphragm assembly 314.Accordingly, linkage assembly 330 may not be utilized. An illustrativeand non-limiting example of such a piezoelectric sheet element is a0-1002794-0 produced by MSI/Schaevitz of Hampton, Va. As is known in theart, a piezoelectric sheet element may generate an electrical outputsignal that varies depending on the amount of mechanical stress that thepiezoelectric sheet element is exposed to. Accordingly, as diaphragmassembly 314 is displaced/flexes (as discussed above), the piezoelectricsheet element (included within transducer assembly 328) may be exposedto mechanical stress and, therefore, may generate a signal that may beprocessed (e.g., amplified/converted/filtered) by transducer measurementsystem 336. This processed signal may then be provided to control logicsubsystem 14 and used to ascertain the quantity of fluid passing throughchamber 318.

Alternatively, the above-described piezoelectric sheet element (includedwithin transducer assembly 328) may be positioned proximate andacoustically coupled with diaphragm assembly 314. The piezoelectricsheet element (included within transducer assembly 328) may or may notinclude a weight assembly to enhance the ability of the piezoelectricsheet element to resonate. Accordingly, as diaphragm assembly 314 isdisplaced/flexes (as discussed above), the piezoelectric sheet element(included within transducer assembly 328) may be exposed to mechanicalstress (due to the acoustic coupling) and, therefore, may generate asignal that may be processed (e.g., amplified/converted/filtered) bytransducer measurement system 336. This processed signal may then beprovided to control logic subsystem 14 and used to ascertain thequantity of fluid passing through chamber 318.

Alternatively, transducer assembly 328 may include an audio speakerassembly in which the cone of the audio speaker assembly may be directlycoupled to diaphragm assembly 314. Accordingly, linkage assembly 330 maynot be utilized. An illustrative and non-limiting example of such anaudio speaker assembly is a AS01308MR-2X produced by Projects Unlimitedof Dayton, Ohio. As is known in the art, the audio speaker assembly mayinclude a voice coil assembly and a permanent magnet assembly withinwhich the voice coil assembly slides. While a signal is typicallyapplied to the voice coil assembly to generate movement of the speakercone, if the speaker is manually moved, a current will be induced in thevoice coil assembly. Accordingly, as diaphragm assembly 314 isdisplaced/flexes (as discussed above), the voice coil of the audiospeaker assembly (included within transducer assembly 328) may bedisplaced with respect to the above-described permanent magnet assemblyand, therefore, a signal may be generated that may be processed (e.g.,amplified/converted/filtered) by transducer measurement system 336. Thisprocessed signal may then be provided to control logic subsystem 14 andused to ascertain the quantity of fluid passing through chamber 318.

Alternatively, transducer assembly 328 may include an accelerometerassembly that may be directly coupled to diaphragm assembly 314.Accordingly, linkage assembly 330 may not be utilized. An illustrativeand non-limiting example of such an accelerometer assembly is aAD22286-R2 produced by Analog Devices, Inc. of Norwood, Mass. As isknown in the art, an accelerometer assembly may generate an electricaloutput signal that varies depending on the acceleration that theaccelerometer assembly is exposed to. Accordingly, as diaphragm assembly314 is displaced/flexes (as discussed above), the accelerometer assembly(included within transducer assembly 328) may be exposed to varyinglevels of acceleration and, therefore, may generate a signal that may beprocessed (e.g., amplified/converted/filtered) by transducer measurementsystem 336. This processed signal may then be provided to control logicsubsystem 14 and used to ascertain the quantity of fluid passing throughchamber 318.

Alternatively, transducer assembly 328 may include a microphone assemblythat may be positioned proximate and acoustically coupled with diaphragmassembly 314. Accordingly, linkage assembly 330 may not be utilized. Anillustrative and non-limiting example of such a microphone assembly is aEA-21842 produced by Knowles Acoustics of Itasca, Ill. Accordingly, asdiaphragm assembly 314 is displaced/flexes (as discussed above), themicrophone assembly (included within transducer assembly 328) may beexposed to mechanical stress (due to the acoustic coupling) and,therefore, may generate a signal that may be processed (e.g.,amplified/converted/filtered) by transducer measurement system 336. Thisprocessed signal may then be provided to control logic subsystem 14 andused to ascertain the quantity of fluid passing through chamber 318.

Alternatively, transducer assembly 328 may include an opticaldisplacement assembly configured to monitor the movement of diaphragmassembly 314. Accordingly, linkage assembly 330 may not be utilized. Anillustrative and non-limiting example of such an optical displacementassembly is a Z4W-V produced by Advanced Motion Systems, Inc. ofPittsford, N.Y. Assume for illustrative purposes that theabove-described optical displacement assembly includes a optical signalgenerator that directs an optical signal toward diaphragm assembly 314,which is reflected off of diaphragm assembly 314 and is sensed by anoptical sensor (also included within optical displacement assembly).Accordingly, as diaphragm assembly 314 is displaced/flexes (as discussedabove), the optical signal sensed by the above-described optical sensor(included within transducer assembly 328) may vary. Therefore, a signalmay be generated by the optical displacement assembly (included withintransducer assembly 328) that may be processed (e.g.,amplified/converted/filtered) by transducer measurement system 336. Thisprocessed signal may then be provided to control logic subsystem 14 andused to ascertain the quantity of fluid passing through chamber 318.

While the above-described examples of flow sensor 308 are meant to beillustrative, they are not intended to be exhaustive, as otherconfigurations are possible and are considered to be within the scope ofthis disclosure. For example, while transducer assembly 328 is shown tobe positioned outside of diaphragm assembly 314, transducer assembly 328may be positioned within chamber 318.

While several the above-described examples of flow sensor 308 aredescribed as being coupled to diaphragm assembly 314, this is forillustrative purposes only and is not intended to be a limitation ofthis disclosure, as other configurations are possible and are consideredto be within the scope of this disclosure. For example and referringalso to FIG. 5H, flow sensor 308 may include piston assembly 338 thatmay be biased by spring assembly 340. Piston assembly 338 may bepositioned proximate and configured to bias diaphragm assembly 314.Accordingly, piston assembly 338 may emulate the movement of diaphragmassembly 314. Therefore, transducer assembly 328 may be coupled topiston assembly 338 and achieve the results discussed above.

Further, when flow sensor 308 is configured to include piston assembly338 and spring assembly 340, transducer assembly 328 may include aninductance monitoring assembly configured to monitor the inductance ofspring assembly 340. Accordingly, linkage assembly 330 may not beutilized. An illustrative and non-limiting example of such an inductancemonitoring assembly is a L/C Meter II B produced by Almost All DigitalElectronics of Auburn, Wash. Accordingly, as diaphragm assembly 314 isdisplaced/flexes (as discussed above), the inductance of spring assembly340 sensed by the above-described inductance monitoring assembly(included within transducer assembly 328) may vary i.e., due to thechanges in resistance as spring assembly 340 flexes. Therefore, a signalmay be generated by the inductance monitoring assembly (included withintransducer assembly 328) that may be processed (e.g.,amplified/converted/filtered) by transducer measurement system 336. Thisprocessed signal may then be provided to control logic subsystem 14 andused to ascertain the quantity of fluid passing through chamber 318.

Referring also to FIG. 6A, a diagrammatic view of plumbing/controlsubsystem 20 is shown. While the plumbing/control subsystem describedbelow concerns the plumbing/control system used to control the quantityof chilled carbonated water 164 being added to product 28, via flowcontrol module 170, this is for illustrative purposes only and is notintended to be a limitation of this disclosure, as other configurationsare also possible. For example, the plumbing/control subsystem describedbelow may also be used to control e.g., the quantity of chilled water166 (e.g., via flow control module 172) and/or chilled high fructosecorn syrup 168 (e.g., via flow control module 174) being added toproduct 28.

As discussed above, plumbing/control subsystem 20 may include feedbackcontroller system 188 that receives flow feedback signal 182 from flowmeasuring device 176. Feedback controller system 188 may compare flowfeedback signal 182 to the desired flow volume (as defined by controllogic subsystem 14 via data bus 38). Upon processing flow feedbacksignal 182, feedback controller system 188 may generate flow controlsignal 194 that may be provided to variable line impedance 200.

Feedback controller system 188 may include trajectory shaping controller350, flow regulator 352, feed forward controller 354, unit delay 356,saturation controller 358, and stepper controller 360, each of whichwill be discussed below in greater detail.

Trajectory shaping controller 350 may be configured to receive a controlsignal from control logic subsystem 14 via data bus 38. This controlsignal may define a trajectory for the manner in which plumbing/controlsubsystem 20 is supposed to deliver fluid (in the case, chilledcarbonated water 164 via flow control module 170) for use in product 28.However, the trajectory provided by control logic subsystem 14 may needto be modified prior to being processed by e.g., flow controller 352.For example, control systems tend to have a difficult time processingcontrol curves that are made up of a plurality of line segments (i.e.,that include step changes). For example, flow regulator 352 may havedifficulty processing control curve 370, as it consists of threedistinct linear segments, namely segments 372, 374, 376. Accordingly, atthe transition points (e.g., transition points 378, 380), flowcontroller 352 specifically (and plumbing/control subsystem 20generally) would be required to instantaneously change from a first flowrate to a second flow rate. Therefore, trajectory shaping controller 350may filter control curve 30 to form smoothed control curve 382 that ismore easily processed by flow controller 352 specifically (andplumbing/control subsystem 20 generally), as an instantaneous transitionfrom a first flow rate to a second flow rate is no longer required.

Additionally, trajectory shaping controller 350 may allow for thepre-fill wetting and post-fill rinsing of nozzle 24. In someembodiments, and/or for some recipes, one or more ingredients maypresent problems to the nozzle 24 if the ingredient (referred to hereinas “dirty ingredient”) contacts the nozzle 24 directly, i.e., in theform in which it is stored. In some embodiments, the nozzle 24 may bepre-fill wetted with a “pre-fill” ingredient, for example, water, so asto prevent the direct contact of these “dirty ingredients” with thenozzle 24. The nozzle 24 may following, be post-fill rinsed with a“post-wash ingredient”, for example, water.

Specifically, in the event that nozzle 24 is pre-fill wetted with, forexample, 10 mL of water, and/or post-fill rinsed with, for example, 10mL of water or any “post-wash” ingredient, once the adding of the dirtyingredient has stopped, trajectory shaping controller 350 may offset thepre-wash ingredient added during the pre-fill wetting and/or post-fillrinsing by providing an additional quantity of dirty ingredient duringthe fill process. Specifically, as container 30 is being filled withproduct 28, the pre-fill rinse water or “pre-wash” may result in product28 being initially under-concentrated with a the dirty ingredient,Trajectory shaping controller 350 may then add dirty ingredient at ahigher-than-needed flow rate, resulting in product 28 transitioning from“under-concentrated” to “appropriately concentrated” to“over-concentrated”, or present in a concentration higher than thatwhich is called for by the particular recipe. However, once theappropriate amount of dirty ingredient has been added, the post-fillrinse process may add additional water, or another appropriate“post-wash ingredient”, resulting in product 28 once again becoming“appropriately-concentrated” with the dirty ingredient.

Flow controller 352 may be configured as a proportional-integral (PI)loop controller. Flow controller 352 may perform the comparison andprocessing that was generally described above as being performed byfeedback controller system 188. For example, flow controller 352 may beconfigured to receive feedback signal 182 from flow measuring device176. Flow controller 352 may compare flow feedback signal 182 to thedesired flow volume (as defined by control logic subsystem 14 andmodified by trajectory shaping controller 350). Upon processing flowfeedback signal 182, flow controller 352 may generate flow controlsignal 194 that may be provided to variable line impedance 200.

Feed forward controller 354 may provide a “best guess” estimateconcerning what the initial position of variable line impedance 200should be. Specifically, assume that at a defined constant pressure,variable line impedance has a flow rate (for chilled carbonated water164) of between 0.00 mL/second and 120.00 mL/second. Further, assumethat a flow rate of 40 mL/second is desired when filling container 30with a beverage product 28. Accordingly, feed forward controller 354 mayprovide a feed forward signal (on feed forward line 384) that initiallyopens variable line impedance 200 to 33.33% of its maximum opening(assuming that variable line impedance 200 operates in a linearfashion).

When determining the value of the feed forward signal, feed forwardcontroller 354 may utilize a lookup table (not shown) that may bedeveloped empirically and may define the signal to be provided forvarious initial flow rates. An example of such a lookup table mayinclude, but is not limited to, the following table:

Signal to stepper Flowrate mL/second controller 0 pulse to 0 degrees 20pulse to 30 degrees 40 pulse to 60 degrees 60 pulse to 150 degrees 80pulse to 240 degrees 100 pulse to 270 degrees 120 pulse to 300 degrees

Again, assuming that a flow rate of 40 mL/second is desired when fillingcontainer 30 with beverage product 28, for example, feed forwardcontroller 354 may utilize the above-described lookup table and maypulse the stepper motor to 60.0 degrees (using feed forward line 384).Although in the exemplary embodiment a stepper motor is used, in variousother embodiments, any other type of motor may be used including but notlimited to a servo motor.

Unit delay 356 may form a feedback path through which a previous versionof the control signal (provided to variable line impedance 200) isprovided to flow controller 352.

Saturation controller 358 may be configured to disable the integralcontrol of feedback controller system 188 (which, as discussed above,may be configured as a PI loop controller) whenever variable lineimpedance 200 is set to a maximum flow rate (by stepper controller 360),thus increasing the stability of the system by reducing flow rateovershoots and system oscillations.

Stepper controller 360 may be configured to convert the signal providedby saturation controller 358 (on line 386) into a signal usable byvariable line impedance 200. Variable line impedance 200 may include astepper motor for adjusting the orifice size (and, therefore, the flowrate) of variable line impedance 200. Accordingly, control signal 194may be configured to control the stepper motor included within variableline impedance.

Referring also to FIG. 6B, an example of flow measuring devices 176,178, 180 of flow control modules 170, 172, 174, respectively, mayinclude but is not limited to a paddle wheel flow measuring device, aturbine-type flow measuring device, or a positive displacement flowmeasuring device (e.g., gear-based, positive displacement flow measuringdevice 388). Thus, in various embodiments, the flow measuring device maybe any device capable of measuring flow, either directly or indirectly.In the exemplary embodiment, a gear-based, positive displacement, flowmeasuring device 388 is used. In this embodiment, the flow measuringdevice 388 may include a plurality of meshing gears (e.g., gears 390,392) that e.g., may require that any content passing through gear-based,positive displacement flow measuring device 388 follow one or moredefined pathways (e.g., pathways 394, 396), resulting in e.g., thecounterclockwise rotation of gear 390 and the clockwise rotation of gear392. By monitoring the rotation of gears 390, 392, a feedback signal(e.g., feedback signal 182) may be generated and provided to theappropriate flow controller (e.g., flow controller 352).

Referring also to FIGS. 7-14, various illustrative embodiments of a flowcontrol module (e.g., flow control module 170) are shown. However, asdiscussed above, the order of the various assemblies may vary in variousembodiments, i.e., the assemblies may be arranged in any order desired.For example, in some embodiments the assemblies are arranged in thefollowing order: flow measuring device, binary valve, variableimpedance; while in other embodiments, the assemblies are arranged inthe following order: flow measuring device, variable impedance, binaryvalve. In some embodiments, it may be desired to vary the order of theassemblies to either maintain pressure and fluid on the variableimpedance or vary the pressure on the variable impedance. In someembodiments, the variable impedance valve may include a lip seal. Inthese embodiments, it may be desirable to maintain pressure and fluid onthe lip seal. This may be accomplished by ordering the assemblies asfollows: flow measuring device, variable impedance, and binary valve.The binary valve being downstream from the variable line impedancemaintains pressure and liquid on the variable impedance such that thelip seal maintains a desirable seal.

Referring first to FIGS. 7A and 7B, one embodiment of the flow controlmodule 170 a is shown. In some embodiments, the flow control module 170a may generally include flow meter 176 a, variable line impedance 200 aand binary valve 212 a, and may have a generally linear fluid flow paththere-through. Flow meter 176 a may include fluid inlet 400 forreceiving a high-volume ingredient from high-volume ingredient subsystem16. Fluid inlet 400 may communicate the high-volume ingredient to agear-based, positive displacement, flow measuring device (e.g.,gear-based, positive displacement device 388 generally described above),including a plurality of intermeshing gears (e.g., including gear 390)disposed within housing 402. The high-volume ingredient may pass fromflow meter 176 a to a binary valve 212 a via fluid passage 404.

Binary valve 212 a may include banjo valve 406 actuated by solenoid 408.Banjo valve 406 may be biased (e.g., by a spring, not shown) to positionbanjo valve 406 toward a closed position, thereby preventing the flow ofthe high-volume ingredient through flow control module 170 a. Solenoidcoil 408 may be energized (e.g., in response to a control signal fromcontrol logic subsystem 14), to linearly drive plunger 410, via linkage412, to move banjo valve 406 out of sealing engagement with valve seat414, thereby opening binary valve 212 a to permitting flow of thehigh-volume ingredient to variable line impedance 200 a.

As mentioned above, variable line impedance 200 a may regulate the flowof the high-volume ingredients. Variable line impedance 200 a mayinclude drive motor 416, which may include, but is not limited to astepper motor, or a servo motor. Drive motor 416 may be coupled tovariable impedance valve 418, generally. As mentioned above, variableimpedance valve 418 may control the flow of the high-volume ingredients,e.g., passing from binary valve 212 a via fluid passage 420, and exitingfrom fluid discharge 422. Examples of variable impedance valve 418 aredisclosed and claimed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,755,683 and U.S. PatentPublication No. 2007/0085049, both are which are incorporated byreference in their entireties. While not shown, a gearbox may be coupledbetween drive motor 416 and variable impedance valve 418.

Referring also to FIGS. 8 and 9, another embodiment of a flow controlmodule (e.g., flow control module 170 b) is shown, generally includingflow meter 176 b, binary valve 212 b, and variable line impedance 200 b.Similar to flow control module 170 a, flow control module 170 b mayinclude fluid inlet 400, which may communicate the high-volumeingredient to flow meter 176 b. Flow meter 176 b may include meshinggears 390, 392 disposed with in cavity 424, e.g., which may be formedwithin housing member 402. Meshing gears 390, 392 and cavity 424 maydefine flow pathways about the perimeter of cavity 424. The high-volumeingredient may pass from flow meter 176 b to binary valve 212 b viafluid passage 404. As shown, fluid inlet 400 and fluid passage 404 mayprovide for a 90 degree flow path in to, and out of, flow meter 176 b(i.e., into and out of cavity 424).

Binary valve 212 b may include banjo valve 406, urged into engagementwith valve seat 414 (e.g., in response to a biasing force applied byspring 426 via linkage 412). When solenoid coil 408 is energized,plunger 410 may be retracted toward solenoid coil 408, thereby movingbanjo valve 406 out of sealing engagement with valve seat 414, therebyallowing the high-volume ingredient to flow to variable line impedance200 b. In other embodiments, the banjo valve 406 may be downstream fromthe variable line impedance 200 b.

Variable line impedance 200 b may generally include a first rigid member(e.g., shaft 428) having a first surface. Shaft 428 may define a firstfluid-path portion with a first terminus at the first surface. The firstterminus may include a groove (e.g., groove 430) defined on the firstsurface (e.g., of shaft 428). Groove 430 may taper from a largecross-sectional area to a small cross-sectional area normal to thetangent of the curve of the first surface. However, in otherembodiments, the shaft 428 may include a bore (i.e., a straightball-style hole, see FIG. 15C) rather than a groove 430. A second rigidmember (e.g., housing 432) may have a second surface (e.g., inner bore434). The second rigid member (e.g., housing 432) may define a secondfluid-path portion with a second terminus at the second surface. Thefirst and second rigid members are capable of being rotated with respectto each other from a fully open position continuously through partiallyopen positions to a closed position. For example, shaft 428 may berotatably driven relative to housing 432 by drive motor 416 (e.g., whichmay include, a stepper motor or a servo motor). The first and secondsurfaces define a space therebetween. An aperture (e.g., opening 436) inthe second rigid member (i.e., housing 432) may provide fluidcommunication between the first and second fluid-path portions when thefirst and second rigid members are in the fully open position or in oneof the partially open positions with respect to each other. Fluidflowing between the first and second fluid-path portions flows throughthe groove (i.e., groove 430) as well as the aperture (i.e., opening436). At least one sealing means (e.g., a gasket, o-ring, or the like,not shown) in some embodiments, may be disposed between the first andsecond surfaces providing a seal between the first and second rigidmembers for preventing fluid from leaking out of the space which alsoprevents fluid leaking from the desired flow path. However, in theexemplary embodiment as shown, this type of sealing means is not used.Rather, in the exemplary embodiments, a lip seal 429 or other sealingmeans, is used to seal the space.

Various connection arrangements may be included for fluidly couplingflow control modules 170, 172, 174 to high-volume ingredient subsystem16 and/or downstream components, e.g., nozzle 24. For example, as shownin FIGS. 8 and 9 with respect to flow control module 170 b, lockingplate 438 may be slidingly disposed relative to guide feature 440. Afluid line (not shown) may be at least partially inserted into fluiddischarge 422 and locking plate 438 may be slidingly translated to lockthe fluid line in engagement with fluid discharge. Various gaskets,o-rings, or the like may be employed to provide a fluid-tight connectionbetween the fluid line and fluid discharge 422.

FIGS. 10 through 13 depict various additional embodiments of flowcontrol modules (e.g., flow control modules 170 c, 170 d, 170 e, and 170f, respectively). Flow control modules 170 c, 170 d, 170 e, 170 fgenerally differ from previously described flow control modules 170 a,170 b in terms of fluid connections and relative variable line impedance200 and binary valve 212 orientations. For example, flow control modules170 d and 170 f, shown in FIGS. 11 and 13 respectively, may includebarbed fluid connections 442 for communicating fluid to/from flow meters176 d and 176 f. Similarly, flow control module 170 c may include barbedfluid connection 444 for communicating fluid to/from variable lineimpedance 200 c. Various additional/alternative fluid connectionarrangements may be equally utilized. Similarly, various relativeorientations of solenoid 408 and configurations of spring bias for banjovalve 406 may be employed to suit various packaging arrangements anddesign criteria.

Referring also to FIGS. 14A-14C, yet another embodiment of a flowcontrol module is depicted (i.e., flow control module 170 g). Flowcontrol module 170 g may generally include flow meter 176 g, variableline impedance 200 g, and binary valve 212 g (e.g., which may be asolenoid actuated banjo valve, as generally described herein above).Referring to FIG. 14C, the lip seals 202 g may be seen. Also, FIG. 14Cshows one exemplary embodiment where the flow control module includes acover which may provide protection to the various flow control moduleassemblies. Although not depicted in all embodiments shown, each of theembodiments of the flow control module may also include a cover

It should be noted that while the flow control module (e.g., flowcontrol modules 170, 172, 174) have been described as being configuredsuch that high-volume ingredients flow from high-volume ingredientsubsystem 16 to the flow meter (e.g., flow meters 176, 178, 180), thento the variable line impedance (e.g., variable line impedance 200, 202,204), and finally through the binary valve (e.g., binary valves 212,214, 216), this should not be construed as a limitation on the presentdisclosure. For example, as shown and discussed with respect to FIGS. 7through 14C, the flow control modules may be configured having a flowpath from high-volume ingredient subsystem 16, to the flow meter (e.g.,flow meters 176, 178, 180), then to the binary valve (e.g., binary valve212, 214, 216), and finally through the variable line impedance (e.g.,variable line impedance 200, 202, 204). Various additional/alternativeconfigurations may be equally utilized. Additionally, one or moreadditional components may be interconnected between one or more of theflow meter, the binary valve, and the variable line impedance.

Referring to FIGS. 15A and 15B, a portion of a variable line impedance(e.g., variable line impedance 200) is shown including drive motor 416(e.g., which may be a stepper motor, a servo motor, or the like). Drivemotor 416 may coupled to shaft 428, having groove 430 therein. Referringnow to FIG. 15C, in some embodiments, the shaft 428 includes a bore, andin the exemplary embodiment, as shown in FIG. 15C, the bore is aball-shaped bore. As discussed, e.g., with reference to FIGS. 8 and 9,drive motor 416 may rotate shaft 428 relative to a housing (e.g.,housing 432) to regulate flow through the variable line impedance.Magnet 446 may be coupled to shaft 428 (e.g., maybe at least partiallydisposed within axial opening in shaft 428. Magnet 446 may be generallydiametrically magnetized, providing south pole 450 and north pole 452.The rotational position of shaft 428 may be determined, e.g., based uponthe magnetic flux imparted by magnet 446 on one or more magnetic fluxsensing devices, e.g., sensors 454, 456 shown in FIG. 9. Magnetic fluxsensing devices may include, but are not limited to, for example, aHall-Effect sensor, or the like. The magnetic flux sensing device mayprovide a position feedback signal, e.g., to control logic subsystem 14.

Referring again to FIG. 15C, in some embodiments, the magnet 446 islocated on the opposite side as the embodiment shown and described abovewith respect to FIGS. 8 and 9. Additionally, in this embodiment, themagnet 446 is held by magnet holder 480.

In addition/as an alternative to utilizing magnetic position sensors(e.g., for determining the rotational position of the shaft), thevariable line impedance may be determined based upon, at least in part,a motor position, or an optical sensor to detect shaft position.

Referring next to FIGS. 16A and 16B, a gear (e.g., gear 390) of agear-based, positive displacement, flow measuring device (e.g.,gear-based, positive displacement, flow measuring device 388) mayinclude one or more magnets (e.g., magnets 458, 460) coupled thereto. Asdiscussed above, as a fluid (e.g., a high-volume ingredient) flowsthrough gear-based, positive displacement, flow measuring device 388,gear 390 (and gear 392) may rotate. The rate of rotation of gear 390 maybe generally proportional to the flow rate of the fluid passing throughgear-based, positive displacement, flow measuring device 388. Therotation (and/or rate of rotation) of gear 390 may be measured using amagnetic flux sensor (e.g., a Hall-Effect sensor, or the like), whichmay measure the rotational movement of axial magnets 458, 460 coupled togear 390. The magnetic flux sensor, e.g., which may be disposed onprinted circuit board 462, depicted in FIG. 8, may provide a flowfeedback signal (e.g., flow feedback signal 182) to a flow feedbackcontroller system (e.g., feedback controller system 188)

Referring also to FIG. 17, a diagrammatic view of user interfacesubsystem 22 is shown. User interface subsystem 22 may include touchscreen interface 500 (exemplary embodiments described below with respectto FIGS. 51-53) that allows user 26 to select various options concerningbeverage 28. For example, user 26 (via “drink size” column 502) may beable to select the size of beverage 28. Examples of the selectable sizesmay include but are not limited to: “12 ounce”; “16 ounce”; “20 ounce”;“24 ounce”; “32 ounce”; and “48 ounce”.

User 26 may be able to select (via “drink type” column 504) the type ofbeverage 28. Examples of the selectable types may include but are notlimited to: “cola”; “lemon-lime”; “root beer”; “iced tea”; “lemonade”;and “fruit punch”.

User 26 may also be able to select (via “add-ins” column 506) one ormore flavorings/products for inclusion within beverage 28. Examples ofthe selectable add-ins may include but are not limited to: “cherryflavor”; “lemon flavor”; “lime flavor”; “chocolate flavor”; “coffeeflavor”; and “ice cream”.

Further, user 26 may be able to select (via “nutraceuticals” column 508)one or more nutraceuticals for inclusion within beverage 28. Examples ofsuch nutraceuticals may include but are not limited to: “Vitamin A”;“Vitamin B6”; “Vitamin B12”; “Vitamin C”; “Vitamin D”; and “Zinc”.

In some embodiments, an additional screen at a level lower than thetouch screen may include a “remote control” (not shown) for the screen.The remote control may include buttons indicating up, down, left andright and select, for example. However, in other embodiments, additionalbuttons may be included.

Once user 26 has made the appropriate selections, user 26 may select“GO!” button 510 and user interface subsystem 22 may provide theappropriate data signals (via data bus 32) to control logic subsystem14. Once received, control logic subsystem 14 may retrieve theappropriate data from storage subsystem 12 and may provide theappropriate control signals to e.g., high volume ingredient subsystem16, microingredient subsystem 18, and plumbing/control subsystem 20,which may be processed (in the manner discussed above) to preparebeverage 28. Alternatively, user 26 may select “Cancel” button 512 andtouch screen interface 500 may be reset to a default state (e.g., nobuttons selected).

User interface subsystem 22 may be configured to allow for bidirectionalcommunication with user 26. For example, user interface subsystem 22 mayinclude informational screen 514 that allows processing system 10 toprovide information to user 26. Examples of the types of informationthat may be provided to user 26 may include but is not limited toadvertisements, information concerning system malfunctions/warnings, andinformation concerning the cost of various products.

As discussed above, control logic subsystem 14 may execute one or morecontrol processes 120 that may control the operation of processingsystem 10. Accordingly, control logic subsystem 14 may execute a finitestate machine process (e.g., FSM process 122).

As also discussed above, during use of processing system 10, user 26 mayselect a particular beverage 28 for dispensing (into container 30) usinguser interface subsystem 22. Via user interface subsystem 22, user 26may select one or more options for inclusion within such beverage. Onceuser 26 makes the appropriate selections, via user interface subsystem22, user interface subsystem 22 may send the appropriate indication tocontrol logic subsystem 14, indicating the selections and preferences ofuser 26 (with respect to beverage 28).

When making a selection, user 26 may select a multi-portion recipe thatis essentially the combination of two separate and distinct recipes thatproduces a multi-component product. For example, user 26 may select aroot beer float, which is a multi-portion recipe that is essentially thecombination of two separate and distinct components (i.e. vanilla icecream and root beer soda). As a further example, user 26 may select adrink that is a combination of cola and coffee. This cola/coffeecombination is essentially a combination of two separate and distinctcomponents (i.e. cola soda and coffee).

Referring also to FIG. 18, upon receiving 550 the above-describedindication, FSM process 122 may process 552 the indication to determineif the product to be produced (e.g., beverage 28) is a multi-componentproduct.

If the product to be produced is a multi-component product 554, FSMprocess 122 may identify 556 the recipe(s) required to produce each ofthe components of the multi-component product. The recipe(s) identifiedmay be chosen from plurality of recipes 36 maintained on storagesubsystem 12, shown in FIG. 1.

If the product to be produced is not a multi-component product 554, FSMprocess 122 may identify 558 a single recipe for producing the product.The single recipe may be chosen from plurality of recipes 36 maintainedon storage subsystem 12. Accordingly, if the indication received 550 andprocessed 552 was an indication that defined a lemon-lime soda, as thisis not a multi-component product, FSM process 122 may identify 558 thesingle recipe required to produce the lemon-lime soda.

If the indication concerns a multi-component product 554, uponidentifying 556 the appropriate recipes chosen from plurality of recipes36 maintained on storage subsystem 12, FSM process 122 may parse 560each of the recipes into a plurality of discrete states and define oneor more state transitions. FSM process 122 may then define 562 at leastone finite state machine (for each recipe) using at least a portion ofthe plurality of discrete states.

If the indication does not concern a multi-component product 554, uponidentifying 558 the appropriate recipe chosen from plurality of recipes36 maintained on storage subsystem 12, FSM process 122 may parse 564 therecipe into a plurality of discrete states and define one or more statetransitions. FSM process 122 may then define 566 at least one finitestate machine for the recipe using at least a portion of the pluralityof discrete states.

As is known in the art, a finite state machine (FSM) is a model ofbehavior composed of a finite number of states, transitions betweenthose states and/or actions. For example and referring also to FIG. 19,if defining a finite state machine for a physical doorway that caneither be fully opened or fully closed, the finite state machine mayinclude two states, namely “opened” state 570 and “closed” state 572.Additionally, two transitions may be defined that allow for thetransition from one state to another state. For example, transitionstate 574 “opens” the door (thus transitioning from “closed” state 572to “open” state 570) and transition state 576 “closes” the door (thustransitioning from “opened” state 570 to “closed” state 572).

Referring also to FIG. 20, a state diagram 600 concerning the manner inwhich coffee may be brewed is shown. State diagram 600 is shown toinclude five states, namely: idle state 602; ready to brew state 604;brewing state 605; maintain temperature state 608; and off state 610.Additionally, five transition states are shown. For example, transitionstate 612 (e.g., installing coffee filter, installing coffee grounds,filling coffee machine with water) may transition from idle state 602 toready to brew state 604. Transition state 614 (e.g., pressing the brewbutton) may transition from ready to brew state 604 to brewing state606. Transition state 616 (e.g., exhausting the water supply) maytransition from brewing state 606 to maintain temperature 608.Transition state 618 (e.g., turning the power switch off or exceeding amaximum “maintain temperature” time) may transition from maintaintemperature state 608 to off state 610. Transition state 620 (e.g.,turning the power switch on) may transition from off state 610 to idlestate 602.

Accordingly, FSM process 122 may generate one or more finite statemachines that correspond to the recipes (or portions thereof) utilizedto produce a product. Once the appropriate finite state machines areproduced, control logic subsystem 14 may execute the finite statemachine(s) and generate the product (e.g., multi-component or singlecomponent) requested by e.g., user 26.

Accordingly, assume that processing system 10 receives 550 an indication(via user interface subsystem 22) that user 26 has selected a root beerfloat. FSM process 122 may process 552 the indication to determine ifthe root beer float is a multi-component product 554. As the root beerfloat is a multi-component product, FSM process 122 may identify 556 therecipes required to produce the root beer float (namely the recipe forroot beer soda and the recipe for vanilla ice cream) and parse 560 therecipe for root beer soda and the recipe for vanilla ice cream into aplurality of discrete states and define one or more state transitions.FSM process 122 may then define 562 at least one finite state machine(for each recipe) using at least a portion of the plurality of discretestates. These finite state machines may subsequently be executed bycontrol logic subsystem 14 to produce the root beer float selected byuser 26.

When executing the state machines corresponding to the recipes,processing system 10 may utilize one or more manifolds (not shown)included within processing system 10. As used in this disclosure, amanifold is a temporary storage area designed to allow for the executionof one or more processes. In order to facilitate the movement ofingredients into and out of the manifolds, processing system 10 mayinclude a plurality of valves (controllable by e.g., control logicsubsystem 14) for facilitating the transfer of ingredients betweenmanifolds. Examples of various types of manifolds may include but arenot limited to: a mixing manifold, a blending manifold, a grindingmanifold, a heating manifold, a cooling manifold, a freezing manifold, asteeping manifold, a nozzle, a pressure manifold, a vacuum manifold, andan agitation manifold.

For example, when making coffee, a grinding manifold may grind coffeebeans. Once the beans are ground, water may be provided to a heatingmanifold in which water 160 is heated to a predefined temperature (e.g.212° F.). Once the water is heated, the heated water (as produced by theheating manifold) may be filtered through the ground coffee beans (asproduced by the grinding manifold). Additionally and depending on howprocessing system 10 is configured, processing system 10 may add creamand/or sugar to the coffee produced in another manifold or at nozzle 24.

Accordingly, each portion of a multi-portion recipe may be executed in adifferent manifold included within processing system 10. Therefore, eachcomponent of a multi-component recipe may be produced in a differentmanifold included within processing system 10. Continuing with theabove-stated example, the first component of the multi-component product(i.e., the root beer soda) may be produced within a mixing manifoldincluded within processing system 10. Further, the second component ofthe multi-component product (i.e., the vanilla ice cream) may beproduced within a freezing manifold included within processing system10.

As discussed above, control logic subsystem 14 may execute one or morecontrol processes 120 that may control the operation of processingsystem 10. Accordingly, control logic subsystem 14 may execute virtualmachine process 124.

As also discussed above, during use of processing system 10, user 26 mayselect a particular beverage 28 for dispensing (into container 30) usinguser interface subsystem 22. Via user interface subsystem 22, user 26may select one or more options for inclusion within such beverage. Onceuser 26 makes the appropriate selections, via user interface subsystem22, user interface subsystem 22 may send the appropriate instructions tocontrol logic subsystem 14.

When making a selection, user 26 may select a multi-portion recipe thatis essentially the combination of two separate and distinct recipes thatproduces a multi-component product. For example, user 26 may select aroot beer float, which is a multi-portion recipe that is essentially thecombination of two separate and distinct components (i.e. vanilla icecream and root beer soda). As a further example, user 26 may select adrink that is a combination of cola and coffee. This cola/coffeecombination is essentially a combination of two separate and distinctcomponents (i.e. cola soda and coffee).

Referring also to FIG. 21, upon receiving 650 the above-describedinstructions, virtual machine process 124 may process 652 theseinstructions to determine if the product to be produced (e.g., beverage28) is a multi-component product.

If 654 the product to be produced is a multi-component product, virtualmachine process 124 may identify 656 a first recipe for producing afirst component of the multi-component product and at least a secondrecipe for producing at least a second component of the multi-componentproduct. The first and second recipes may be chosen from plurality ofrecipes 36 maintained on storage subsystem 12.

If 654 the product to be produced is not a multi-component product,virtual machine process 124 may identify 658 a single recipe forproducing the product. The single recipe may be chosen from plurality ofrecipes 36 maintained on storage subsystem 12. Accordingly, if theinstructions received 650 were instructions concerning a lemon-limesoda, as this is not a multi-component product, virtual machine process124 may identify 658 the single recipe required to produce thelemon-lime soda.

Upon identifying 656, 658 the recipe(s) from plurality of recipes 36maintained on storage subsystem 12, control logic subsystem 14 mayexecute 660, 662 the recipe(s) and provide the appropriate controlsignals (via data bus 38) to e.g. high volume ingredient subsystem 16microingredient subsystem 18 and plumbing/control subsystem 20,resulting in the production of beverage 28 (which is dispensed intocontainer 30).

Accordingly, assume that processing system 10 receives instructions (viauser interface subsystem 22) to create a root beer float. Virtualmachine process 124 may process 652 these instructions to determine if654 the root beer float is a multi-component product. As the root beerfloat is a multi-component product, virtual machine process 124 mayidentify 656 the recipes required to produce the root beer float (namelythe recipe for root beer soda and the recipe for vanilla ice cream) andexecute 660 both recipes to produce root beer soda and vanilla ice cream(respectively). Once these products are produced, processing system 10may combine the individual products (namely root beer soda and vanillaice cream) to produce the root beer float requested by user 26.

When executing a recipe, processing system 10 may utilize one or moremanifolds (not shown) included within processing system 10. As used inthis disclosure, a manifold is a temporary storage area designed toallow for the execution of one or more processes. In order to facilitatethe movement of ingredients into and out of the manifolds, processingsystem 10 may include a plurality of valves (controllable by e.g.,control logic subsystem 14) for facilitating the transfer of ingredientsbetween manifolds. Examples of various types of manifolds may includebut are not limited to: a mixing manifold, a blending manifold, agrinding manifold, a heating manifold, a cooling manifold, a freezingmanifold, a steeping manifold, a nozzle, a pressure manifold, a vacuummanifold, and an agitation manifold.

For example, when making coffee, a grinding manifold may grind coffeebeans. Once the beans are ground, water may be provided to a heatingmanifold in which water 160 is heated to a predefined temperature (e.g.212° F.). Once the water is heated, the heated water (as produced by theheating manifold) may be filtered through the ground coffee beans (asproduced by the grinding manifold). Additionally and depending on howprocessing system 10 is configured, processing system 10 may add creamand/or sugar to the coffee produced in another manifold or at nozzle 24.

Accordingly, each portion of a multi-portion recipe may be executed in adifferent manifold included within processing system 10. Therefore, eachcomponent of a multi-component recipe may be produced in a differentmanifold included within processing system 10. Continuing with theabove-stated example, the first portion of the multi-portion recipe(i.e., the one or more processes utilized by processing system 10 tomake root beer soda) may be executed within a mixing manifold includedwithin processing system 10. Further, the second portion of themulti-portion recipe (i.e., the one or more processes utilized byprocessing system 10 to make vanilla ice cream) may be executed within afreezing manifold included within processing system 10.

As discussed above, during use of processing system 10, user 26 mayselect a particular beverage 28 for dispensing (into container 30) usinguser interface subsystem 22. Via user interface subsystem 22, user 26may select one or more options for inclusion within such beverage. Onceuser 26 makes the appropriate selections, via user interface subsystem22, user interface subsystem 22 may send the appropriate data signals(via data bus 32) to control logic subsystem 14. Control logic subsystem14 may process these data signals and may retrieve (via data bus 34) oneor more recipes chosen from plurality of recipes 36 maintained onstorage subsystem 12. Upon retrieving the recipe(s) from storagesubsystem 12, control logic subsystem 14 may process the recipe(s) andprovide the appropriate control signals (via data bus 38) to e.g. highvolume ingredient subsystem 16 microingredient subsystem 18 andplumbing/control subsystem 20, resulting in the production of beverage28 (which is dispensed into container 30).

When user 26 makes their selection, user 26 may select a multi-portionrecipe that is essentially the combination of two separate and distinctrecipes. For example, user 26 may select a root beer float, which is amulti-portion recipe that is essentially the combination of two separateand distinct recipes (i.e. vanilla ice cream and root beer soda). As afurther example, user 26 may select a drink that is a combination ofcola and coffee. This cola/coffee combination is essentially acombination of two separate and distinct recipes (i.e. cola soda andcoffee).

Accordingly, assume that processing system 10 receives instructions (viauser interface subsystem 22) to create a root beer float, knowing that arecipe for a root beer float is a multi-portion recipe, processingsystem 10 may simply obtain the standalone recipe for root beer soda,obtain the standalone recipe for vanilla ice cream, and execute bothrecipes to produce root beer soda and vanilla ice cream (respectively).Once these products are produced, processing system 10 may combine theindividual products (namely root beer soda and vanilla ice cream) toproduce the root beer float requested by user 26.

When executing a recipe, processing system 10 may utilize one or moremanifolds (not shown) included within processing system 10. As used inthis disclosure, a manifold is a temporary storage area designed toallow for the execution of one or more processes. In order to facilitatethe movement of ingredients into and out of the manifolds, processingsystem 10 may include a plurality of valves (controllable by e.g.,control logic subsystem 14) for facilitating the transfer of ingredientsbetween manifolds. Examples of various types of manifolds may includebut are not limited to: a mixing manifold, a blending manifold, agrinding manifold, a heating manifold, a cooling manifold, a freezingmanifold, a steeping manifold, a nozzle, a pressure manifold, a vacuummanifold, and an agitation manifold.

For example, when making coffee, a grinding manifold may grind coffeebeans. Once the beans are ground, water may be provided to a heatingmanifold in which water 160 is heated to a predefined temperature (e.g.212° F.). Once the water is heated, the heated water (as produced by theheating manifold) may be filtered through the ground coffee beans (asproduced by the grinding manifold). Additionally and depending on howprocessing system 10 is configured, processing system 10 may add creamand/or sugar to the coffee produced in another manifold or at nozzle 24.

As discussed above, control logic subsystem 14 may execute one or morecontrol processes 120 that may control the operation of processingsystem 10. Accordingly, control logic subsystem 14 may execute virtualmanifold process 126.

Referring also to FIG. 22, virtual manifold process 126 may monitor 680one or more processes occurring during a first portion of amulti-portion recipe being executed on e.g., processing system 10 toobtain data concerning at least of portion of the one or more processes.For example, assume that the multi-portion recipe concerns the making ofa root beer float, which (as discussed above) is essentially thecombination of two separate and distinct recipes (i.e. root beer sodaand vanilla ice cream) that may be chosen from plurality of recipes 36maintained on storage subsystem 12. Accordingly, the first portion ofthe multi-portion recipe may be considered the one or more processesutilized by processing system 10 to make root beer soda. Further, thesecond portion of the multi-portion recipe may be considered the one ormore processes utilized by processing system 10 to make vanilla icecream.

Each portion of these multi-portion recipes may be executed in adifferent manifold included within processing system 10. For example,the first portion of the multi-portion recipe (i.e., the one or moreprocesses utilized by processing system 10 to make root beer soda) maybe executed within a mixing manifold included within processing system10. Further, the second portion of the multi-portion recipe (i.e., theone or more processes utilized by processing system 10 to make vanillaice cream) may be executed within a freezing manifold included withinprocessing system 10. As discussed above, processing system 10 mayinclude a plurality of manifolds, examples of which may include but arenot limited to: mixing manifolds, blending manifolds, grindingmanifolds, heating manifolds, cooling manifolds, freezing manifolds,steeping manifolds, nozzles, pressure manifolds, vacuum manifolds, andagitation manifolds.

Accordingly, virtual manifold process 126 may monitor 680 the processesutilized by processing system 10 to make root beer soda (or may monitorthe processes utilized by processing system 10 to make vanilla icecream) to obtain data concerning these processes.

Examples of the type of data obtained may include but is not limited toingredient data and processing data.

Ingredient data may include but is not limited to a list of ingredientsused during the first portion of a multi-portion recipe. For example, ifthe first portion of a multi-portion recipe concerns making root beersoda, the list of ingredients may include: a defined quantity of rootbeer flavoring, a defined quantity of carbonated water, a definedquantity of non-carbonated water, and a defined quantity of highfructose corn syrup.

Processing data may include but is not limited to a sequential list ofprocesses performed on the ingredients. For example, a defined quantityof carbonated water may begin to be introduced into a manifold withinprocessing system 10. While filling the manifold with carbonated water,the defined quantity of root beer flavoring, the defined quantity ofhigh fructose corn syrup, and the defined quantity of non-carbonatedwater may also be introduced into the manifold.

At least a portion of the data obtain may be stored 682 (e.g., eithertemporarily or permanently). Further, virtual manifold process 126 mayenable 684 the availability of this stored data for subsequent use bye.g., one or more processes occurring during a second portion of themulti-portion recipe. When storing 682 the data obtained, virtualmanifold process 126 may archive 686 the data obtained in a non-volatilememory system (e.g., storage subsystem 12) for subsequent diagnosticpurposes. Examples of such diagnostic purposes may include enabling aservice technician to review ingredient consumption characteristics toestablish a purchasing plan for purchasing consumables for processingsystem 10. Alternatively/additionally, when storing 682 the dataobtained, virtual manifold process 126 may temporarily write 688 thedata obtained to a volatile memory system (e.g., random access memory104).

When enabling 684 the availability of the data obtained, virtualmanifold process 126 may route 690 the obtained data (or a portionthereof) to one or more processes that are occurring (or will occur)during the second portion of the multi-portion recipe. Continuing withthe above-stated example, in which the second portion of themulti-portion recipe concerns the one or more processes utilized byprocessing system 10 to make vanilla ice cream, virtual manifold process126 may enable 684 the data obtained (or a portion thereof) to beavailable to the one or more processes utilized to make vanilla icecream.

Assume that the root beer flavoring utilized to make the above-describedroot beer float is flavored with a considerable quantity of vanillaflavoring. Further, assume that when making the vanilla ice cream, aconsiderable quantity of vanilla flavoring is also used. As virtualmanifold process 126 may enable 684 the availability of the obtaineddata (e.g., ingredient and/or process data) to control logic subsystem(i.e., the subsystem orchestrating the one or more processes utilized tomake the vanilla ice cream), upon reviewing this data, control logicsubsystem 14 may alter the ingredients utilized to make the vanilla icecream. Specifically, control logic subsystem 14 may reduce the quantityof vanilla flavoring utilized to make the vanilla ice cream to avoid anoverabundance of vanilla flavoring within the root beer float.

Additionally, by enabling 684 the availability of the obtained data tosubsequently-executed processes, procedures may be performed that wouldprove impossible had that data not be made available to thesubsequently-executed processes. Continuing with the above-statedexample, assume that it is determined empirically that consumers tend tonot like any single-serving of a product that includes more than 10.0 mLof vanilla flavoring. Further, assume that 8.0 mL of vanilla flavoringis included within the root beer flavoring utilized to make the rootbeer soda for the root beer float, and another 8.0 mL of vanillaflavoring is utilized to make the vanilla ice cream utilized to make theroot beer float. Therefore, if these two products (the root beer sodaand the vanilla ice cream) are combined, the final product would beflavored with 16.0 mL of vanilla flavoring (which exceeds theempirically-defined not-to-exceed 10.0 mL rule).

Accordingly, if the ingredient data for the root beer soda was notstored 682 and the availability of such stored data was not enabled 684by virtual manifold process 126, the fact that the root beer sodacontains 8.0 mL of vanilla flavoring would be lost and a final productcontaining 16.0 mL of vanilla flavoring would be produced. Accordingly,this obtained and stored 682 data may be utilized to avoid (or reduce)the occurrence of any undesirable effect (e.g., an undesired flavorcharacteristic, an undesired appearance characteristic, an undesiredodor characteristic, an undesired texture characteristic, and exceedinga maximum recommended dosage of a nutraceutical).

The availability of this obtained data may allow for subsequentprocesses to also be adjusted. For example, assume that the quantity ofsalt utilized to make the vanilla ice cream varies depending on thequantity of carbonated water utilized to make the root beer soda. Again,if the ingredient data for the root beer soda was not stored 682 and theavailability of such stored data was not enabled 684 by virtual manifoldprocess 126, the quantity of carbonated water used to make the root beersoda would be lost and the ability to adjust the quantity of saltutilized to make the ice cream may be compromised.

As discussed above, virtual manifold process 126 may monitor 680 one ormore processes occurring during a first portion of a multi-portionrecipe being executed on e.g., processing system 10 to obtain dataconcerning at least of portion of the one or more processes. The one ormore processes monitored 680 may be executed within a single manifold ofthe processing system 10 or may be representative of a single portion ofa multi-portion procedure executed within a single manifold ofprocessing system 10.

For example, when making the root beer soda, a single manifold may beused that has four inlets (e.g., one for the root beer flavoring, onefor the carbonated water, one for the non-carbonated water, and one forthe high fructose corn syrup) and one outlet (as all of the root beersoda is being provided to a single secondary manifold).

However, if instead of having one outlet, the manifold has two outlets(one having a flow rate of four times the other), virtual manifoldprocess 126 may consider this process to include two separate anddistinct portions being executed simultaneously within the samemanifold. For example, 80% of all of the ingredients may be mixedtogether to produce 80% of the total quantity of root beer soda; whilethe remaining 20% of all of the ingredients may be simultaneously mixedtogether (in the same manifold) to produce 20% of the root beer soda.Accordingly, virtual manifold process 126 may enable 684 the dataobtained concerning the first portion (i.e., the 80% portion) to be madeavailable to the downstream process that utilizes the 80% of the rootbeer soda and enable 684 the data obtained concerning the second portion(i.e., the 20% portion) to be made available to the downstream processthat utilizes the 20% of the root beer soda.

Additionally/alternatively, the single portion of a multi-portionprocedure executed within a single manifold of processing system 10 maybe indicative of one process that occurs within a single manifold thatexecutes a plurality of discrete processes. For example, when makingvanilla ice cream within the freezing manifold, the individualingredients may be introduced, mixed, and reduced in temperature untilfrozen. Accordingly, the process of making vanilla ice cream may includean ingredient introduction process, an ingredient mixing process, and aningredient freezing process, each of which may be individually monitored680 by virtual manifold process 126.

As discussed above, product module assembly 250 (of microingredientsubsystem 18 and plumbing/control subsystem 20) may include a pluralityof slot assemblies 260, 262, 264, 266 configured to releasably engage aplurality of product containers 252, 254, 256, 258. Unfortunately, whenservicing processing system 10 to refill product containers 252, 254,256, 258, it may be possible to install a product container within thewrong slot assembly of product module assembly 250. A mistake such asthis may result in one or more pump assemblies (e.g., pump assemblies270, 272, 274, 276) and/or one or more tubing assemblies (e.g., tubingbundle 304) being contaminated with one or more microingredients. Forexample, as root beer flavoring (i.e., the microingredient containedwithin product container 256) has a very strong taste, once a particularpump assembly/tubing assembly is used to distribute e.g., root beerflavoring, it can no longer be used to distribute a microingredienthaving a less-strong taste (e.g., lemon-lime flavoring, iced teaflavoring, and lemonade flavoring).

Additionally and as discussed above, product module assembly 250 may beconfigured to releasably engage bracket assembly 282. Accordingly, inthe event that processing system 10 includes multiple product moduleassemblies and multiple bracket assemblies, when servicing processingsystem 10, it may be possible to install a product module assembly ontothe wrong bracket assembly. Unfortunately, such a mistake may alsoresult in one or more pump assemblies (e.g., pump assemblies 270, 272,274, 276) and/or one or more tubing assemblies (e.g., tubing bundle 304)being contaminated with one or more microingredients.

Accordingly, processing system 10 may include an RFID-based system toensure the proper placement of product containers and product moduleswithin processing system 10. Referring also to FIGS. 23 & 24, processingsystem 10 may include RFID system 700 that may include RFID antennaassembly 702 positioned on product module assembly 250 of processingsystem 10.

As discussed above, product module assembly 250 may be configured toreleasably engage at least one product container (e.g., productcontainer 258). RFID system 700 may include RFID tag assembly 704positioned on (e.g., affixed to) product container 258. Whenever productmodule assembly 250 releasably engages the product container (e.g.,product container 258), RFID tag assembly 704 may be positioned withine.g., upper detection zone 706 of RFID antenna assembly 702. Accordinglyand in this example, whenever product container 258 is positioned within(i.e. releasably engages) product module assembly 250, RFID tag assembly704 should be detected by RFID antenna assembly 702.

As discussed above, product module assembly 250 may be configured toreleasably engage bracket assembly 282. RFID system 700 may furtherinclude RFID tag assembly 708 position on (e.g. affixed to) bracketassembly 282. Whenever bracket assembly 282 releasably engages productmodule assembly 250, RFID tag assembly 708 may be positioned withine.g., lower detection zone 710 of RFID antenna assembly 702.

Accordingly, through use of RFID antenna assembly 702 and RFID tagassemblies 704, 708, RFID system 700 may be able to determine whether ornot the various product containers (e.g., product containers 252, 254,256, 258) are properly positioned within product module assembly 250.Further, RFID system 700 may be able to determine whether or not productmodule assembly 250 is properly positioned within processing system 10.

While RFID system 700 shown to include one RFID antenna assembly and twoRFID tag assemblies, this is for illustrative purposes only and is notintended to be a limitation of this disclosure, as other configurationsare possible. Specifically, a typical configuration of RFID system 700may include one RFID antenna assembly positioned within each slotassembly of product module assembly 250. For example, RFID system 700may additionally include RFID antenna assemblies 712, 714, 716positioned within product module assembly 250. Accordingly, RFID antennaassembly 702 may determine whether a product container is inserted intoslot assembly 266 (of product module assembly 250); RFID antennaassembly 712 may determine whether a product container is inserted intoslot assembly 264 (of product module assembly 250); RFID antennaassembly 714 may determine whether a product container is inserted intoslot assembly 262 (of product module assembly 250); and RFID antennaassembly 716 may determine whether a product container is inserted intoslot assembly 260 (of product module assembly 250). Further, sinceprocessing system 10 may include multiple product module assemblies,each of these product module assemblies may include one or more RFIDantenna assemblies to determine which product containers are insertedinto the particular product module assembly.

As discussed above, by monitoring for the presence of an RFID tagassembly within lower detection zone 710 of RFID antenna assembly 702,RFID system 700 may be able to determine whether product module assembly250 is properly positioned within processing system 10. Accordingly, anyof RFID antenna assemblies 702, 712, 714, 716 may be utilized to readone or more RFID tag assemblies affixed to bracket assembly 282. Forillustrative purposes, product module assembly 282 is shown to includeonly a single RFID tag assembly 708. However, this is for illustrativepurposes only and is not intended to be a limitation of this disclosure,as other configurations are possible. For example, bracket assembly 282may include multiple RFID tag assemblies, namely RFID tag assembly 718(shown in phantom) for being read by RFID antenna assembly 712; RFID tagassembly 720 (shown in phantom) for being read by RFID antenna assembly714; and RFID tag assembly 722 (shown in phantom) for being read by RFIDantenna assembly 716.

One or more of the RFID tag assemblies (e.g., RFID tag assemblies 704,708, 718, 720, 722) may be passive RFID tag assemblies (e.g., RFID tagassemblies that do not require a power source). Additionally, one ormore of the RFID tag assemblies (e.g., RFID tag assemblies 704, 708,718, 720, 722) may be a writeable RFID tag assembly, in that RFID system700 may write data to the RFID tag assembly. Examples of the type ofdata storable within the RFID tag assemblies may include, but is notlimited to: a quantity identifier for the product container, aproduction date identifier for the product container, a discard dateidentifier for the product container, an ingredient identifier for theproduct container, a product module identifier, and a bracketidentifier.

With respect to the quantity identifier, in some embodiments, eachvolume of ingredient pumped from a container including an RFID tag, thetag is written to include the updated volume in the container, and/or,the amount pumped. Where the container is subsequently removed from theassembly, and replaced into a different assembly, the system will readthe RFID tag and will know the volume in the container and/or the amountthat has been pumped from the container. Additionally, the dates ofpumping may also be written on the RFID tag.

Accordingly, when each of the bracket assemblies (e.g. bracket assembly282) is installed within processing system 10, an RFID tag assembly(e.g. RFID tag assembly 708) may be attached, wherein the attached RFIDtag assembly may define a bracket identifier (for uniquely identifyingthe bracket assembly). Accordingly, if processing system 10 includes tenbracket assemblies, ten RFID tag assemblies (i.e., one attached to eachbracket assembly) may define ten unique bracket identifiers (i.e. onefor each bracket assembly).

Further, when a product container (e.g. product container 252, 254, 256,258) is manufactured and filled with a microingredient, an RFID tagassembly may include: an ingredient identifier (for identifying themicroingredient within the product container); a quantity identifier(for identifying the quantity of microingredient within the productcontainer); a production date identifier (for identifying the date ofmanufacture of the microingredient); and a discard date identifier (foridentifying the date on which the product container should bediscarded/recycled).

Accordingly, when product module assembly 250 is installed withinprocessing system 10, RFID antenna assemblies 702, 712, 714, 716 may beenergized by RFID subsystem 724. RFID subsystem 724 may be coupled tocontrol logic subsystem 14 via databus 726. Once energized, RFID antennaassemblies 702, 712, 714, 716 may begin scanning their respective upperand lower detection zones (e.g. upper detection zone 706 and lowerdetection zone 710) for the presence of RFID tag assemblies.

As discussed above, one or more RFID tag assemblies may be attached tothe bracket assembly with which product module assembly 250 releasablyengages. Accordingly, when product module assembly 250 is slid onto(i.e. releasably engages) bracket assembly 282, one or more of RFID tagassemblies 708, 718, 720, 722 may be positioned within the lowerdetection zones of RFID antenna assemblies 702, 712, 714, 716(respectively). Assume, for illustrative purposes, that bracket assembly282 includes only one RFID tag assembly, namely RFID tag assembly 708.Further, assume for illustrative purposes that product containers 252,254, 256, 258 are being installed within slot assemblies 260, 262, 264,266 (respectively). Accordingly, RFID subsystem 714 should detectbracket assembly 282 (by detecting RFID tag assembly 708) and shoulddetect product containers 252, 254, 256, 258 by detecting the RFID tagassemblies (e.g., RFID tag assembly 704) installed on each productcontainer.

The location information concerning the various product modules, bracketassemblies, and product containers, may be stored within e.g. storagesubsystem 12 that is coupled to control logic subsystem 14.Specifically, if nothing has changed, RFID subsystem 724 should expectto have RFID antenna assembly 702 detect RFID tag assembly 704 (i.e.which is attached to product container 258) and should expect to haveRFID antenna assembly 702 detect RFID tag assembly 708 (i.e. which isattached to bracket assembly 282). Additionally, if nothing has changed:RFID antenna assembly 712 should detect the RFID tag assembly (notshown) attached to product container 256; RFID antenna assembly 714should detect the RFID tag assembly (not shown) attached to productcontainer 254; and RFID antenna assembly 716 should detect the RFID tagassembly (not shown) attached to product container 252.

Assume for illustrative purposes that, during a routine service call,product container 258 is incorrectly positioned within slot assembly 264and product container 256 is incorrectly positioned within slot assembly266. Upon acquiring the information included within the RFID tagassemblies (using the RFID antenna assemblies), RFID subsystem 724 maydetect the RFID tag assembly associated with product container 258 usingRFID antenna assembly 262; and may detect the RFID tag assemblyassociated with product container 256 using RFID antenna assembly 702.Upon comparing the new locations of product containers 256, 258 with thepreviously stored locations of product containers 256, 258 (as stored onstorage subsystem 12), RFID subsystem 724 may determine that thelocation of each of these product containers is incorrect.

Accordingly, RFID subsystem 724, via control logic subsystem 14, mayrender a warning message on e.g. informational screen 514 ofuser-interface subsystem 22, explaining to e.g. the service technicianthat the product containers were incorrectly reinstalled. Depending onthe types of microingredients within the product containers, the servicetechnician may be e.g. given the option to continue or told that theycannot continue. As discussed above, certain microingredients (e.g. rootbeer flavoring) have such a strong taste that once they have beendistributed through a particular pump assembly and/or tubing assembly,the pump assembly/tubing assembly can no longer be used for any othermicroingredient. Additionally and as discussed above, the various RFIDtag assemblies attached to the product containers may define themicroingredient within the product container.

Accordingly, if a pump assembly/tubing assembly that was used forlemon-lime flavoring is now going to be used for root beer flavoring,the service technician may be given a warning asking them to confirmthat this is what they want to do. However, if a pump assembly/tubingassembly that was used for root beer flavoring is now going to be usedfor lemon-lime flavoring, the service technician may be provided with awarning explaining that they cannot proceed and must switch the productcontainers back to their original configurations or e.g., have thecompromised pump assembly/tubing assembly removed and replaced with avirgin pump assembly/tubing assembly. Similar warnings may be providedin the event that RFID subsystem 724 detects that a bracket assembly hasbeen moved within processing system 10.

RFID subsystem 724 may be configured to monitor the consumption of thevarious microingredients. For example and as discussed above, an RFIDtag assembly may be initially encoded to define the quantity ofmicroingredient within a particular product container. As control logicsubsystem 14 knows the amount of microingredient pumped from each of thevarious product containers, at predefined intervals (e.g. hourly), thevarious RFID tag assemblies included within the various productcontainers may be rewritten by RFID subsystem 724 (via an RFID antennaassembly) to define an up-to-date quantity for the microingredientincluded within the product container.

Upon detecting that a product container has reached a predeterminedminimum quantity, RFID subsystem 724, via control logic subsystem 14,may render a warning message on informational screen 514 ofuser-interface subsystem 22. Additionally, RFID subsystem 724 mayprovide a warning (via informational screen 414 of user-interfacesubsystem 22) in the event that one or more product containers hasreached or exceeded an expiration date (as defined within an RFID tagassembly attached to the product container).

While RFID system 700 is described above as having an RFID antennaassembly affixed to a product module and RFID tag assemblies affixed tobracket assemblies and product containers, this is for illustrativepurposes only and is not intended to be a limitation of this disclosure.Specifically, the RFID antenna assembly may be positioned on any productcontainer, a bracket assembly, or product module. Additionally, the RFIDtag assemblies may be positioned on any product container, bracketassembly, or product module. Accordingly, in the event that an RFID tagassembly is affixed to a product module assembly, the RFID tag assemblymay define a project module identifier that e.g. defines a serial numberfor the product module.

Due to the close proximity of the slot assemblies (e.g., slot assemblies260, 262, 264, 266) included within product module assembly 250, it maybe desirable to configure RFID antenna assembly 702 in a manner thatallows it to avoid reading e.g., product containers positioned withinadjacent slot assemblies. For example, RFID antenna assembly 702 shouldbe configured so that RFID antenna assembly 702 can only read RFID tagassemblies 704, 708; RFID antenna assembly 712 should be configured sothat RFID antenna assembly 712 can only read RFID tag assembly 718 andthe RFID tag assembly (not shown) affixed to product container 256; RFIDantenna assembly 714 should be configured so that RFID antenna assembly714 can only read RFID tag assembly 720 and the RFID tag assembly (notshown) affixed to product container 254; and RFID antenna assembly 716should be configured so that RFID antenna assembly 716 can only readRFID tag assembly 722 and the RFID tag assembly (not shown) affixed toproduct container 252.

Accordingly and referring also to FIG. 25, one or more of RFID antennaassemblies 702, 712, 714, 716 may be configured as a loop antenna. Whilethe following discussion is directed towards RFID antenna assembly 702,this is for illustrative purposes only and is not intended to be alimitation of this disclosure, as the following discussion may beequally applied to RFID antenna assemblies 712, 714, 716.

RFID antenna assembly 702 may include first capacitor assembly 750(e.g., a 2.90 pF capacitor) that is coupled between ground 752 and port754 that may energize RFID antenna assembly 702. A second capacitorassembly 756 (e.g., a 2.55 pF capacitor) maybe positioned between port754 and inductive loop assembly 758. Resistor assembly 760 (e.g., a 2.00Ohm resistor) may couple inductive loop assembly 758 with ground 752while providing a reduction in the Q factor to increase the bandwidthand provide a wider ranger of operation.

As is known in the art, the characteristics of RFID antenna assembly 702may be adjusted by altering the physical characteristics of inductiveloop assembly 758. For example, as the diameter “d” of inductive loopassembly 758 increases, the far field performance of RFID antennaassembly 702 may increase. Further, as the diameter “d” of inductiveloop assembly 758 decreases; the far field performance of RFID antennaassembly 702 may decrease.

Specifically, the far field performance of RFID antenna assembly 702 mayvary depending upon the ability of RFID antenna assembly 702 to radiateenergy. As is known in the art, the ability of RFID antenna assembly 702to radiate energy may be dependent upon the circumference of inductiveloop assembly 708 (with respect to the wavelength of carrier signal 762used to energize RFID antenna assembly 702 via port 754.

Referring also to FIG. 26 and in a preferred embodiment, carrier signal762 may be a 915 MHz carrier signal having a wavelength of 12.89 inches.With respect to loop antenna design, once the circumference of inductiveloop assembly 758 approaches or exceeds 50% of the wavelength of carriersignal 762, the inductive loop assembly 758 may radiate energy outwardin a radial direction (e.g., as represented by arrows 800, 802, 804,806, 808, 810) from axis 812 of inductive loop assembly 758, resultingin strong far field performance. Conversely, by maintaining thecircumference of inductive loop assembly 758 below 25% of the wavelengthof carrier signal 762, the amount of energy radiated outward byinductive loop assembly 758 will be reduced and far field performancewill be compromised. Further, magnetic coupling may occur in a directionperpendicular to the plane of inductive loop assembly 758 (asrepresented by arrows 814, 816), resulting in strong near fieldperformance.

As discussed above, due to the close proximity of slot assemblies (e.g.,slot assemblies 260, 262, 264, 266) included within product moduleassembly 250, it may be desirable to configure RFID antenna assembly 702in a manner that allows it to avoid reading e.g., product containerspositioned within adjacent slot assemblies. Accordingly, by configuringinductive loop assembly 758 so that the circumference of inductive loopassembly 758 is below 25% of the wavelength of carrier signal 762 (e.g.,3.22 inches for a 915 MHz carrier signal), far field performance may bereduced and near field performance may be enhanced. Further, bypositioning inductive loop assembly 758 so that the RFID tag assembly tobe read is either above or below RFID antenna assembly 702, the RFID tagassembly may be inductively coupled to RFID antenna assembly 702. Forexample, when configured so that the circumference of inductive loopassembly 758 is 10% of the wavelength of carrier signal 762 (e.g., 1.29inches for a 915 MHz carrier signal), the diameter of inductive loopassembly 758 would be 0.40 inches, resulting in a comparatively highlevel of near field performance and a comparatively low level of farfield performance.

Referring also to FIGS. 27 & 28, processing system 10 may beincorporated into housing assembly 850. Housing assembly 850 may includeone or more access doors/panels 852, 854 that e.g., allow for theservicing of processing system 10 and allow for the replacement of emptyproduct containers (e.g., product container 258). For various reasons(e.g., security, safety, etc), it may be desirable to secure accessdoors/panels 852, 854 so that the internal components of beveragedispensing machine 10 can only be accessed by authorized personnel.Accordingly, the previously-described RFID subsystem (i.e., RFIDsubsystem 700) may be configured so that access doors/panels 852, 854may only be opened if the appropriate RFID tag assembly is positionedproximate RFID access antenna assembly 900. An example of such anappropriate RFID tag assembly may include an RFID tag assembly that isaffixed to a product container (e.g., RFID tag assembly 704 that isaffixed to product container 258).

RFID access antenna assembly 900 may include multi-segment inductiveloop assembly 902. A first matching component 904 (e.g., a 5.00 pFcapacitor) may be coupled between ground 906 and port 908 that mayenergize RFID access antenna assembly 900. A second matching component910 (e.g., a 16.56 nanoHenries inductor) may be positioned between port908 and multi-segment inductive loop assembly 902. Matching components904, 910 may adjust the impedance of multi-segment inductive loopassembly 902 to a desired impedance (e.g., 50.00 Ohms). Generally,matching components 904, 910 may improve the efficiency of RFID accessantenna assembly 900.

RFID access antenna assembly 900 may include a reduction in the Q factorof element 912 (e.g., a 50 Ohm resistor) that may be configured to allowRFID access antenna assembly 900 to be utilized over a broader range offrequencies. This may also allow RFID access antenna assembly 900 to beused over an entire band and may also allow for tolerances within thematching network. For example, if the band of interest of RFID accessantenna assembly 900 is 50 MHz and reduction of Q factor element (alsoreferred to herein as a “de-Qing element”) 912 is configured to make theantenna 100 MHz wide, the center frequency of RFID access antennaassembly 900 may move by 25 MHz without affecting the performance ofRFID access antenna assembly 900. De-Qing element 912 may be positionedwithin multi-segment inductive loop assembly 902 or positioned somewhereelse within RFID access antenna assembly 900.

As discussed above, by utilizing a comparatively small inductive loopassembly (e.g., inductive loop assembly 758 of FIGS. 25 & 26), far fieldperformance of an antenna assembly may be reduced and near fieldperformance may be enhanced. Unfortunately, when utilizing such a smallinductive loop assembly, the depth of the detection range of the RFIDantenna assembly is also comparatively small (e.g., typicallyproportional to the diameter of the loop). Therefore, to obtain a largerdetection range depth, a larger loop diameter may be utilized.Unfortunately and as discussed above, the use of a larger loop diametermay result in increased far field performance.

Accordingly, multi-segment inductive loop assembly 902 may include aplurality of discrete antenna segments (e.g., antenna segments 914, 916,918, 920, 922, 924, 926), with a phase shift element (e.g., capacitorassemblies 928, 930, 932, 934, 936, 938, 940). Examples of capacitorassemblies 928, 930, 932, 934, 936, 938, 940 may include 1.0 pFcapacitors or varactors (e.g., voltage variable capacitors) for example,0.1-250 pF varactors. The above-described phase shift element may beconfigured to allow for the adaptive controlling of the phase shift ofmulti-segment inductive loop assembly 902 to compensate for varyingconditions; or for the purpose of modulating the characteristics ofmulti-segment inductive loop assembly 902 to provide for variousinductive coupling features and/or magnetic properties. An alternativeexample of the above-described phase shift element is a coupled line(not shown).

As discussed above, by maintaining the length of an antenna segmentbelow 25% of the wavelength of the carrier signal energizing RFID accessantenna assembly 900, the amount of energy radiated outward by theantenna segment will be reduced, far field performance will becompromised, and near field performance will be enhanced. Accordinglyeach of antenna segments 914, 916, 918, 920, 922, 924, 926 may be sizedso that they are no longer than 25% of the wavelength of the carriersignal energizing RFID access antenna assembly 900. Further, by properlysizing each of capacitor assemblies 928, 930, 932, 934, 936, 938, 940,any phase shift that occurs as the carrier signal propagates aroundmulti-segment inductive loop assembly 902 may be offset by the variouscapacitor assemblies incorporated into multi-segment inductive loopassembly 902. Accordingly, assume for illustrative purposes that foreach of antenna segments 914, 916, 918, 920, 922, 924, 926, a 90° phaseshift occurs. Accordingly, by utilizing properly sized capacitorassemblies 928, 930, 932, 934, 936, 938, 940, the 90° phase shift thatoccurs during each segment may be reduced/eliminated. For example, for acarrier signal frequency of 915 MHz and an antenna segment length thatis less than 25% (and typically 10%) of the wavelength of the carriersignal, a 1.2 pF capacitor assembly may be utilized to achieve thedesired phase shift cancellation, as well as tune segment resonance.

While multi-segment inductive loop assembly 902 is shown as beingconstructed of a plurality of linear antenna segments coupled via miterjoints, this is for illustrative purposes only and is not intended to bea limitation of this disclosure. For example, a plurality of curvedantenna segments may be utilized to construct multi-segment inductiveloop assembly 902. Additionally, multi-segment inductive loop assembly902 may be configured to be any loop-type shape. For example,multi-segment inductive loop assembly 902 may be configured as an oval(as shown in FIG. 28), a circle, a square, a rectangle, or an octagon.

While the system is described above as being utilized within aprocessing system, this is for illustrative purposes only and is notintended to be a limitation of this disclosure, as other configurationsare possible. For example, the above-described system may be utilizedfor processing/dispensing other consumable products (e.g., ice cream andalcoholic drinks). Additionally, the above-described system may beutilized in areas outside of the food industry. For example, theabove-described system may be utilized for processing/dispensing:vitamins; pharmaceuticals; medical products, cleaning products;lubricants; painting/staining products; and other non-consumableliquids/semi-liquids/granular solids and/or fluids.

While the system is described above as having the RFID tag assembly(e.g., RFID tag assembly 704) that is affixed to the product container(e.g., product container 258) positioned above the RFID antenna assembly(e.g., RFID antenna assembly 702), which is positioned above the RFIDtag (e.g., RFID tag assembly 708) that is affixed to bracket assembly282, this for illustrative purposes only and is not intended to be alimitation of this disclosure, as other configurations are possible. Forexample, the RFID tag assembly (e.g., RFID tag assembly 704) that isaffixed to the product container (e.g., product container 258) may bepositioned below the RFID antenna assembly (e.g., RFID antenna assembly702), which may be positioned below the RFID tag (e.g., RFID tagassembly 708) that is affixed to bracket assembly 282.

As discussed above, by utilizing comparatively short antenna segments(e.g., antenna segments 914, 916, 918, 920, 922, 924, 926) that are nolonger than 25% of the wavelength of the carrier signal energizing RFIDantenna assembly 900, far field performance of antenna assembly 900 maybe reduced and near field performance may be enhanced.

Referring also to FIG. 29, if a higher level of far field performance isdesired from the RFID antenna assembly, RFID antenna assembly 900 a maybe configured to include far field antenna assembly 942 (e.g., a dipoleantenna assembly) electrically coupled to a portion of multi-segmentinductive loop assembly 902 a. Far field antenna assembly 942 mayinclude first antenna portion 944 (i.e., forming the first portion ofthe dipole) and second antenna portion 946 (i.e., forming the secondportion of the dipole). As discussed above, by maintaining the length ofantenna segments 914, 916, 918, 920, 922, 924, 926 below 25% of thewavelength of the carrier signal, far field performance of antennaassembly 900 a may be reduced and near field performance may beenhanced. Accordingly, the sum length of first antenna portion 944 andsecond antenna portion 946 may be greater than 25% of the wavelength ofthe carrier signal, thus allowing for an enhanced level of far fieldperformance.

Referring also to FIG. 30, as discussed above (e.g., with reference toFIG. 27) processing system 10 may be incorporated into housing assembly850. Housing assembly 850 may include one or more access doors/panels(e.g., upper door 852, and lower door 854) that e.g., allow for theservicing of processing system 10 and allow for the replacement of emptyproduct containers (e.g., product container 258). Touch screen interface500 may be disposed on upper door 852, allowing facile user access.Upper door 852 may also provide access to dispenser assembly 1000, whichmay allow a beverage container (e.g., container 30) to be filled with abeverage (e.g., via nozzle 24; not shown), ice, or the like.Additionally, lower door 854 may include RFID interrogation region 1002,e.g., which may be associated with RFID access antenna assembly 900,e.g., to permit one or more of access doors/panels 852, 854 to beopened. Interrogation region 1002 is depicted for illustrative purposesonly, as RFID access antenna assembly 900 may be equally located invarious alternative locations, including locations other than accessdoors/panels 852, 854.

Referring also to FIGS. 51-53, an exemplary embodiment of the userinterface assembly 5100 is depicted, which may be incorporated into thehousing assembly 850 shown in FIG. 30. The user interface assembly mayinclude the touch screen interface 500. User interface assembly 5100 mayinclude a touch screen 5102, a frame 5104, a border 5106, a seal 5108,and a system controller enclosure 5110. The border 5106 may space thetouch screen 5102, and may also serve as a clean visual border. Thetouch screen 5102, in the exemplary embodiment, is a capacitive touchscreen, however, on other embodiments, other types of touch screens maybe used. However, in the exemplary embodiment, due to the capacitivenature of the touch screen 5102 it may be desirable to maintain apredetermined distance between the touch screen 5102 and the door 852via the border 5106.

The seal 5108 may protect the display shown in FIG. 52 as 5200) and mayserve to prevent moisture and/or particulates from reaching the display5200. In the exemplary embodiment, the seal 5108 contacts the door ofthe housing assembly 852 to better maintain a seal. In the exemplaryembodiment, the display 5200 is an LCD display an is held by the frameby at least one set of spring fingers 5202, which may engage the display5200 and retain the display 5200. In the exemplary embodiment, thedisplay 5200 is a 15″ LCD display such as model LQ150X1LGB1 from SonyCorporation, Tokyo, Japan. However, in other embodiments, the displaymay be any type of display. The spring fingers 5202 may additionallyserve as springs, to allow for tolerances within the user interfaceassembly 5100, thus, in the exemplary embodiment, the touch screen 5102is allowed to float relative to the display 5200. In the exemplaryembodiment, the touch screen 5102 is a projected capacitive touch screensuch as model ZYP15-10001D by Zytronics of Blaydon on Tyne, UK, but inother embodiments, the touch screen may another type of touch screenand/or another capacitive touch screen. In the exemplary embodiment, theseal is a foam in place gasket, which in the exemplary embodiment, ismade from polyurethane foam die-cut, but in other embodiments, may bemade from silicone foam or other similar materials. In some embodiments,the seal may be an over molded seal or any other type of sealing body.

In the exemplary embodiment, the user interface assembly 5100 includesfour sets of spring fingers 5202. However, other embodiments may includea greater or fewer number of spring fingers 5202. In the exemplaryembodiment, the spring fingers 5202 and the frame 5104 are made fromABS, but in other embodiments, may be made from any material.

Referring also to FIG. 53, the user interface assembly 5100, in theexemplary embodiment, also includes as least one PCB as well as at leaston connector 5114, which, in some embodiments, may be covered by aconnector cap 5116.

Referring also to FIG. 31, consistent with an exemplary embodiment,processing system 10 may include upper cabinet portion 1004 a and lowercabinet portion 1006 a. However, this should not be construed as alimitation on this disclosure, as other configurations may be equallyutilized. With additional reference also to FIGS. 32 and 33, uppercabinet portion 1004 a (e.g., which may be covered, at least in part, byupper door 852) may include one or more features of plumbing subsystem20, described above. For example, upper cabinet portion 1004 a mayinclude one or more flow control modules (e.g., flow control module170), a fluid chilling system (e.g., cold plate 163, not shown), adispensing nozzle (e.g., nozzle 24, not shown), plumbing for connectionto high-volume ingredient supplies (e.g., carbon dioxide supply 150,water supply 152, and HFCS supply 154, not shown), and the like.Additionally, upper cabinet portion 1004 a may include ice hopper 1008for storing ice, and ice dispensing chute 1010, for dispensing ice fromice hopper 1008 (e.g., into beverage containers).

Carbon dioxide supply 150 may be provided by one or more carbon dioxidecylinders, e.g., which may be remotely located and plumbed to processingsystem 10. Similarly, water supply 152 may be provided as municipalwater, e.g., which may also be plumbed to processing system 10. Highfructose corn syrup supply 154 may include, for example, one or morereservoirs (e.g., in the form of five gallon bag-in-box containers),which may be remotely stored (e.g., in a back room, etc.). High fructosecorn syrup supply 154 may also by plumbed to processing system 10.Plumbing for the various high-volume ingredients may be achieved viaconventional hard or soft line plumbing arrangements.

As discussed above, carbonated water supply 158, water supply 152, andhigh fructose corn syrup supply 154 may be remotely located and plumbedto processing system 10 (e.g., to flow control modules 170, 172, 174).Referring to FIG. 34, a flow control module (e.g., flow control module172) may be coupled to a high-volume ingredient supply (e.g., water 152)via quick plumbing connection 1012. For example, water supply 152 may becoupled to plumbing connection 1012, which may be releasably coupled toflow control module 172, thereby completing plumbing of water supply 152to flow control module 170.

Referring to FIGS. 35, 36A, 36B, 37A, 37B, and 37, another embodiment ofthe upper cabinet portion (e.g., upper cabinet portion 1004 b) is shown.Similar to the above-described exemplary embodiment, upper cabinetportion 1004 b may include one or more features of plumbing subsystem20, described above. For example, upper cabinet portion 1004 b mayinclude one or more flow control modules (e.g., flow control module170), a fluid chilling system (e.g., cold plate 163, not shown), adispensing nozzle (e.g., nozzle 24, not shown), plumbing for connectionto high-volume ingredient supplies (e.g., carbon dioxide supply 150,water supply 152, and HFCS supply 154, not shown), and the like.Additionally, upper cabinet portion 1004 b may include ice hopper 1008for storing ice, and ice dispensing chute 1010, for dispensing ice fromice hopper 1008 (e.g., into beverage containers).

Referring also to FIGS. 36A-36 b, upper cabinet portion 1004 b mayinclude power module 1014. Power module 1014 may house, e.g., a powersupply, one or more power distribution busses, controllers (e.g.,control logic subsystem 14) user interface controllers, storage device12, etc. Power module 1014 may include one or more status indicators(indicator lights 1016, generally), and power/data connections (e.g.,connections 1018 generally).

Referring also to FIGS. 37A, 37B, and 37C, flow control module 170 maybe mechanically and fluidly coupled to upper cabinet portion 1004 b viaconnection assembly 1020, generally. Connection assembly 1020 mayinclude a supply fluid passage, e.g., which may be coupled to ahigh-volume ingredient supply (e.g., carbonated water 158, water 160,high-fructose corn syrup 162, etc) via inlet 1022. Inlet 1024 of flowcontrol module 170 may be configured to be at least partially receivedin outlet passage 1026 of connection assembly 1020. Accordingly, flowcontrol module 170 may receive high-volume ingredients via connectionassembly 1020. Connection assembly 1020 may further include a valve(e.g., ball valve 1028) movable between an opened and closed position.When ball valve 1028 is in the opened position, flow control module 170may be fluidly coupled to a high-volume ingredient supply. Similarly,when ball valve 1028 is in the closed position, flow control module 170may be fluidly isolated from the high-volume ingredient supply.

Ball valve 1028 may be moved between the opened and closed position byrotatably actuating locking tab 1030. In addition to opening and closingball valve 1028, locking tab 1030 may engage flow control module 170,e.g., thereby retaining flow control module relative to connectionassembly 1020. For example, shoulder 1032 may engage tab 1034 of flowcontrol module 170. Engagement between shoulder 1032 and tab 1034 mayretain inlet 1024 of flow control module 170 in outlet passage 1026 ofconnection assembly 1020. Retaining inlet 1024 of flow control module170 in outlet passage 1026 of connection assembly 1020 may additionallyfacilitate maintaining a fluid-tight connection between flow controlmodule 170 and connection assembly 1020 (e.g., by maintainingsatisfactory engagement between inlet 1024 and outlet 1026).

Locking tab face 1036 of locking tab 1030 may engage outlet connector1038 (e.g., which may be fluidly coupled to an outlet of flow controlmodule 170). For example, as shown, locking tab face 1036 may engageface 1040 of outlet connector 1038, retaining outlet connector 1038 influid tight engagement with flow control module 170.

Connection assembly 1020 may facilitate the installation/removal of flowcontrol module 170 from processing system 10 (e.g., to allow replacementof a damaged/malfunctioning flow control module). Consistent with thedepicted orientation, locking tab 1030 may be rotated counterclockwise(e.g., approximately one quarter of a turn in the illustratedembodiment). Counterclockwise rotation of locking tab 130 may disengageoutlet connector 1038 and tab 1034 of flow control module 170. Outletconnector 1038 may be disengaged from flow control module 170.Similarly, inlet 1024 of flow control module 170 may be disengaged fromoutlet passage 1026 of connection assembly 1020. Additionally,counterclockwise rotation of locking tab 1030 may rotate ball valve 1028to the closed position, thereby closing the fluid supply passageconnected to the high-volume ingredient. As such, once locking tab 1030is rotated to allow flow control module 170 to be removed fromconnection assembly 1020, the fluid connection to the high-volumeingredient is closed, e.g., which may reduce/prevent contamination ofprocessing system by the high-volume ingredients. Tab extension 1042 oflocking tab 1030 may inhibit the removal of flow control module 170 fromconnection assembly 1020 until ball valve 1028 is in a fully closedposition (e.g., by preventing the fluid disengagement and removal offlow control module 170 until ball valve 1028 has been rotated 90degrees to a fully closed position).

In a related manner, flow control module 170 may be coupled toconnection assembly 1020. For example, with locking tab 1030 rotatedcounterclockwise, inlet 1024 of flow control module 170 may be insertedinto outlet passage 1026 of connection assembly 1020. Outlet connector1038 may be engaged with the outlet (not shown) of flow control module170. Locking tab 1030 may be rotated clockwise, thereby engaging flowcontrol module 170 and outlet connector 1038. In the clockwise rotatedposition, connection assembly 1020 may retain inlet 1024 of flow controlmodule 170 in fluid tight connection with outlet passage 1026 ofconnection assembly. Similarly, outlet connector 1038 may be retained influid tight connection with the outlet of flow control module 170.Further, clockwise rotation of locking tab 1030 may move ball valve 1028to the opened position, thereby fluidly coupling flow control module 170to the high-volume ingredient.

With additional reference also to FIG. 38, lower cabinet portion 1006 amay include one or more features of microingredient subsystem 18, andmay house one or more on-board consumable ingredient supplies. Forexample, lower cabinet portion 1006 a may include one or moremicroingredient towers (e.g., microingredient towers 1050, 1052, 1054)and supply 1056 of non-nutritive sweetener (e.g., an artificialsweetener or combination of a plurality of artificial sweeteners). Asshown, microingredient towers 1050, 1052, 1054 may include one or moreproduct module assemblies (e.g., product module assembly 250), which mayeach be configured to releasably engage one or more product containers(e.g., product containers 252, 254, 256, 258, not shown). For example,microingredient towers 1050 and 1052 may each include three productmodule assemblies, and microingredient tower 1054 may include fourproduct module assemblies.

Referring also to FIGS. 39 and 40, one or more of the microingredienttowers (e.g., microingredient tower 1052) may be coupled to an agitationmechanism, e.g., which may rock, linearly slide, or otherwise agitatemicroingredient tower 1052, and/or a portion thereof. The agitationmechanism may aid in maintaining a mixture of separable ingredientsstored on microingredient tower 1052. The agitation mechanism mayinclude, for example, agitation motor 1100, which may drive agitationarm 1102 via linkage 1104. Agitation arm 1102 may be driven in agenerally vertical oscillatory motion, and may be coupled to one or moreproduct module assemblies (e.g., product module assemblies 250 a, 250 b,250 c, 250 d), thereby imparting a rocking agitation to product moduleassemblies 250 a, 250 b, 250 c, 250 d. A safety shut-shut off may beassociated with lower door 854, e.g., which may disable the agitationmechanism when loser cabinet door 1154 is open.

As discussed above, RFID system 700 may detect the presence, location(e.g., product module assembly and slot assembly) and contents ofvarious product containers. Accordingly, RFID system 700 may render awarning (e.g., via RFID subsystem 724 and/or control logic subsystem 14)if a product container including contents that require agitation havebeen installed in a microingredient tower (e.g., microingredient tower1052) that is not coupled to the agitation container. Further, controllogic subsystem 14 may prevent the product container which is not beingagitated from being utilized.

As discussed above, the product module assemblies (e.g., product moduleassembly 250) may be configured with four slot assemblies, and may,therefore, be referred to as a quad product module and/or quad productmodule assembly. With additional reference also to FIG. 41, productmodule assembly 250 may include a plurality of pump assemblies (e.g.,pump assemblies 270, 272, 274, 276). For example, one pump assembly(e.g., pump assemblies 270, 272, 274, 276) may be associated with eachof the four slot assemblies of product module 250 (e.g., in the case ofa quad product module). Pump assemblies 270, 272, 274, 276 may pumpproduct from product containers (not shown) releasable engaged incorresponding slot assemblies of product module assembly 250.

As shown, each product module assembly (e.g., product module assemblies250 a, 250 b, 250 c, 250 d) of the microingredient towers (e.g.,microingredient tower 1052) may be coupled to a common wiring harness,e.g., via connector 1106. As such, microingredient tower 1052 may beelectrically coupled to, for example, control logic subsystem 14, apower supply, etc., via a single connection point.

Referring also to FIG. 42, as discussed above, product module 250 mayinclude a plurality of slot assemblies (e.g., slot assemblies 260, 262,264, 266). Slot assemblies 260, 262, 264, 266 may be configured toreleasably engage a product container (e.g., product container 256).Slot assemblies 260, 262, 264, 266 may include respective doors 1108,1110, 1112. As shown, two or more of the slot assemblies (e.g., slotassemblies 260, 262) may be configured to releasably engage a doublewide product container (e.g., a product container configured to bereleasably engaged in two slot assemblies), and/or two separate productcontainers including complimentary products (e.g., separate ingredientsfor a two ingredient beverage recipe). Accordingly, slot assemblies 260,262 may include a double-wide door (e.g., door 1108) covering both slotassemblies 260, 262.

Doors 1108, 1110, 1112 may releasably engage a hinge rail to allowpivotal opening and closing of doors 1108, 1108, 1112. For example,doors 1108, 1110, 1112 may include a snap-fit feature, allowing doors1108, 1108, 1112 to be snapped onto, and off of, the hinge rail.Accordingly, doors 1108, 1110, 1112 may be snapped onto, or off of, thehinge rail allow replacement of broken doors, reconfiguration of thedoors (e.g., to replace a double-wide door with two single-wide doors,or vice versa).

Each door (e.g., door 1110) may include a tongue feature (e.g., tongue1114) which may engage a cooperating feature of a product container(e.g., notch 1116 of product container 256). Tongue 1114 may transferforce to product container 256 (e.g., via notch 1116), and may assistinsertion and removal of product container 256 into, and out of, slotassembly 264. For example, during insertion, product container 256 maybe at least partially inserted into slot assembly 264. When door 1110 isclosed, tongue 1114 may engage notch 1116, and transfer door closingforce to product container 256, securing seating product container 256in slot assembly 264 (e.g., as a result of the leverage provided by door1110). Similarly, tongue 1114 may at least partially engage notch 1116(e.g., may be at least partially captured by a lip of notch 1116), andmay apply a removal force (e.g., again as a result of the leverageprovided by door 1110) to product container 256.

Product module 250 may include one or more indicator lights, e.g., whichmay convey information regarding the status of a one or more slotassemblies (e.g., slot assemblies 260, 262, 264, 266. For example, eachof the doors (e.g., door 1112) may include a light pipe (e.g., lightpipe 1118) optically coupled to a light source (e.g., light source1120). Light pipe 1118 may include, for example, a segment of clear ortransparent material (e.g., a clear plastic such as acrylic, glass,etc.) that may transmit light from light source 1120 to the front ofdoor 1112. Light source 1120 may include, for example, one or more LED's(e.g., a red LED and a green LED). In the case of a double-wide door(e.g., door 1108) only a single light pipe and single light source,associated with the single light pipe, corresponding to one of the slotassemblies may be utilized. The unused light source, corresponding tothe other slot assembly of the double-wide door, may be blocked off byat least a portion of the door.

As mentioned, light pipe 1118 and light source 1120 may convey variousinformation regarding the slot assembly, product container, etc. Forexample, light source 1120 may provide a green light (which may beconveyed via light pipe 1118 to the front of door 1112) to indicate anoperational status of slot assembly 266 and a non-empty status of theproduct container releasably engaged in slot assembly 266. Light source1120 may provide a red light (which may be conveyed via light pipe 1118to the front of door 1112) to indicate that the product containerreleasably engaged in slot assembly 266 is empty. Similarly, lightsource 1120 may provide a flashing red light (which may be conveyed vialight pipe 1118 to the front of door 1112) to indicate a malfunction orfault associated with slot assembly 266. Various additional/alternativeinformation may be indicated using light source 1120 and light pipe1118. Further, additional related lighting schemes may also be utilized(e.g., flashing green light, orange light resulting from the lightsource providing both a green and a red light, and the like).

Referring also to FIGS. 43A, 43B, and 43C, product container 256 may,for example, include a two piece housing (e.g., include front housingportion 1150 and rear housing portion 1152). Front housing portion 1150may include protrusion 1154, e.g., which may provide lip 1156. Lip 1156may facilitate handling of product container 256 (e.g., during insertionand/or removal of product container from slot assembly 264).

Rear housing portion 1152 may include fitment feature 1158 a, e.g.,which may fluidly couple the product container (e.g., product container256) to a mating fitment of a pump assembly (e.g., pump assembly 272 ofproduct module 250). Fitment feature 1158 a may include a blind matefluid connector, which may fluidly couple product container 256 to pumpassembly 272 when fitment feature is pressed onto a cooperating feature(e.g., a stem) of pump assembly 272. Various alternative fitmentfeatures (e.g., fitment feature 1158 b depicted in FIG. 44) may beprovided to provide fluid coupling between product container 256 andvarious pump assemblies.

Front housing portion 1150 and rear housing portion 1152 may includeseparate plastic components which may be joined to form productcontainer 256. For example, front housing portion 1150 and rear housingportion 1152 may be heat staked together, adhesively bonded,ultrasonically welded, or otherwise joined in a suitable manner. Productcontainer 256 may further include product pouch 1160, which may be atleast partially disposed within front housing portion 1150 and rearhousing portion 1152. For example, product pouch 1160 may be filled witha consumable (e.g., a beverage flavoring), and positioned within fronthousing portion 1150 and rear housing portion 1152, which may besubsequently joined to house product pouch 1160. Product pouch 1160 mayinclude, for example, a flexible bladder that may collapse as theconsumable is pumped from product pouch 1160 (e.g., by pump assembly272).

Product pouch 1160 may include gussets 1162, which may improve thevolumetric efficiency of product container 256, e.g., by allowingproduct pouch 1160 to occupy a relatively larger portion of the interiorvolume defined by front housing portion 1150 and rear housing portion1152. Additionally, gussets 1162 may facilitate the collapse of productpouch 1162 as the consumable is pumped out of product pouch 1160.Additionally, fitment feature 1158 a may be physically joined to productpouch 1160, e.g., via ultrasonic welding.

As mentioned above, in addition to the microingredient towers, lowercabinet portion 1006 a may include supply 1056 of a large volumemicroingredient. For example, in some embodiments, the large volumemicroingredient may be a non-nutritive sweetener (e.g., an artificialsweetener or combination of a plurality of artificial sweeteners). Someembodiments may include microingredients in which larger volumes arerequired. In these embodiments, one or more large volume microingredientsupplies may be included. In the embodiment as shown, supply 1056 may bea non-nutritive sweetener which may include, for example, a bag-in-boxcontainer, e.g., which is know to include a flexible bladder containingthe non-nutritive sweetener product disposed within a generally rigidbox, e.g., which may protect the flexible bladder against rupture, etc.For purposes of illustration only, the non-nutritive sweetener examplewill be used. However, in other embodiments, any microingredient may bestored in the large volume microingredient supply. In some alternateembodiments, other types of ingredients may be stored in a supplysimilar to supply 1056 as described herein. The term “large volumemicroingredient” refers to a microingredient identified as a frequentuse microingredient in which, for the products being dispensed, is usedfrequently enough that a greater than one microingredient pump assemblyis used.

Supply 1056 of non-nutritive sweetener may be coupled to a productmodule assembly, e.g., which may include one or more pump assemblies(e.g., as previously described above). For example, supply 1056 ofnon-nutritive sweetener may be coupled to a product module includingfour pump assemblies as described above. Each of the four pumpassemblies may include a tube or line directing non-nutritive sweetenerfrom the respective pump assembly to nozzle 24, for dispensing thenon-nutritive sweetener (e.g., in combination with one or moreadditional ingredients).

Referring to FIGS. 45A and 45B, lower cabinet portion 1006 b may includeone or more features of microingredient subsystem 18. For example, lowercabinet portion 106 b may house one or more microingredient supplies.The one or more microingredient supplies may be configured as one ormore microingredient shelves (e.g., microingredient shelves 1200, 1202,1204) and a supply 1206 of non-nutritive sweetener. As shown, eachmicroingredient shelf (e.g., microingredient shelf 1200) may include oneor more product module assemblies (e.g., product module assemblies 250d, 250 e, 250 f) configured in a generally horizontal arrangement. Oneor more of the microingredient shelves may be configured to agitate(e.g., in a generally similar manner to microingredient tower 1052described above).

Continuing with the above-described embodiment, in which the one or moremicroingredient supplies may be configured as one or moremicroingredient shelves, and as discussed above, shelf 1200 may includea plurality of product module assemblies (namely, product moduleassemblies 250 d, 250 e, 250 f). Each product module assembly (e.g.,product module assembly 250 f) may be configured to releasably engageone or more product containers (e.g., product container 256) in arespective slot assembly (e.g., slot assemblies 260, 262, 264, 266).

Additionally, each of product module assemblies 250 d, 250 e, 250 f mayinclude a respective plurality of pump assemblies. For example, andreferring also to FIGS. 47A, 47B, 47D, 47E, and 47F, product moduleassembly 250 d may generally include pump assemblies 270 a, 270 b, 270d, and 270 e. A respective one of pump assemblies 270 a, 270 b, 270 c,270 d may be associated with one of slot assemblies 260, 262, 264, 266,e.g., for pumping ingredients contained within a respective productcontainer (e.g., product container 256). For example, each of pumpassemblies 270 a, 270 b, 270 c, 270 d may include a respective fluidcoupling stem (e.g., fluid coupling stems 1250, 1252, 1254, 1256), e.g.,which may fluidly couple to a product container (e.g., product container256) via a cooperating fitment (e.g., fitment feature 1158 a, 1158 bshown in FIGS. 43B and 44).

Referring to FIG. 47E, a cross sectional view of the pump moduleassembly 250 d is shown. The assembly 250 d includes a fluid inlet 1360which is shown in the cross sectional view of the fitment. The fitmentmates with the female part (shown in FIG. 43B as 1158 a) of the productcontainers (not shown, shown as 256 in FIG. 43B, amongst other figures).The fluid from the product container enters the pump assembly 250 d atthe fluid inlet 1360. The fluid flows into the capacitive flow sensor1362 and then through the pump 1364, past the backpressure regulator1366 and to the fluid outlet 1368. As shown herein, the fluid flow paththrough the pump module assembly 250 d allows the air to flow throughthe assembly 250 d without being trapped within the assembly. The fluidinlet 1360 is on a lower plane than the fluid exit 1368. Additionally,the fluid travels vertically towards the flow sensor and then whentraveling in the pump, is again at a higher plane than the inlet 1360.Thus, the arrangement allows the fluid to continually flow upwardsallowing air to flow through the system without getting trapped. Thus,the pump module assembly 250 d design is a self-priming and purgingpositive displacement fluid delivery system.

Referring to FIGS. 47E and 47F, the backpressure regulator 1366 may beany backpressure regulator, however, the exemplary embodiment of thebackpressure regulator 1366 for pumping small volumes is shown. Thebackpressure regulator 1366 includes a diaphragm 1367 including“volcano” features and a molded o-ring about the outer diameter. Theo-ring creates a seal. A piston is connected to the diaphragm 1367. Aspring, about the piston, biases the piston and the diaphragm in aclosed position. In this embodiment, the spring is seated on an outersleeve. When the fluid pressure meets or exceeds the cracking pressureof the piston/spring assembly, the fluid flows past the backpressureregulator 1366 and towards the fluid exit 1368. In the exemplaryembodiment, the cracking pressure is approximately 7-9 psi. The crackingpressure is tuned to the pump 1364. Thus, in various embodiments, thepump may be different from the one described, and in some of thoseembodiment, another embodiment of the backpressure regulator may beused.

With additional reference to FIG. 48, outlet plumbing assembly 1300 maybe configured to releasably engage pump assemblies 270 a, 270 b, 270 c,270 d, e.g., for supplying ingredients from a respective product moduleassembly (e.g., product module assembly 250 d) to plumbing/controlsubsystem 20. Outlet plumbing assembly 1300 may include a plurality ofplumbing fitments (e.g., fitments 1302, 1304, 1306, 1308) configured tofluidly couple to respective pump assemblies 270 a, 270 b, 270 c, 270 d,e.g., for fluidly coupling pumping assemblies 270 a, 270 b, 270 c, 270 dto plumbing/control subsystem 20 via fluid lines 1310, 1312, 1314, 1316.

Releasable engagement between outlet plumbing assembly 1300 and productmodule assembly 250 d may be effectuated, e.g., via a camming assemblyproviding facile engagement and release of outlet plumbing assembly 1300and product module assembly 250 d. For example, the camming assembly mayinclude handle 1318 rotatably coupled to fitment support 1320, and camfeatures 1322, 1324. Cam features 1322, 1324 may be engageable withcooperating features (not shown) of product module assembly 250 d. Withreference to FIG. 47C, rotational movement of handle 1318 in thedirection of the arrow may release outlet plumbing assembly 1300 fromproduct module assembly 250 d, e.g., allowing outlet plumbing assembly1300 to be lifted away, and removed, from product module assembly 250 d.

With particular reference to FIGS. 47D and 47E, product module assembly250 d may similarly be releasable engageable to microingredient shelf1200, e.g., allowing facile removal/installation of product moduleassembly 250 to microingredient shelf 1200. For example, as shown,product module assembly 250 d may include release handle 1350, e.g.,which may be pivotally connected to product module assembly 250 d.Release handle 1350 may include, e.g., locking ears 1352, 1354 (e.g.,most clearly depicted in FIGS. 47A and 47D). Locking ears 1352, 1354 mayengage cooperating features of microingredient shelf 1200, e.g., therebyretaining product module assembly 250 d in engagement withmicroingredient shelf 1200. As shown in FIG. 47E, release handle 1350may be pivotally lifted in the direction of the arrow to disengagelocking ears 1352, 1354 from the cooperating features of microingredientshelf 1200. Once disengaged, product module assembly 250 d may be liftedfrom microingredient shelf 1200.

One or more sensors may be associated with one or more of handle 1318and/or release handle 1350. The one or more sensors may provide anoutput indicative of a locking position of handle 1318 and/or releasehandle 1350. For example, the output of the one or more sensors mayindicate whether handle 1318 and/or release handle 1350 is in an engagedor a disengaged position. Based upon, at least in part the output of theone or more sensor, product module assembly 250 d may be electricallyand/or fluidly isolated from plumbing/control subsystem 20. Exemplarysensors may include, for example, cooperating RFID tags and readers,contact switches, magnetic position sensors, or the like.

As discussed above and referring again to FIG. 47E, flow sensor 308 maybe utilized to sense flow of the above-described micro-ingredientsthrough (in this example) pump assembly 272 (See FIG. 5A-5H). Asdiscussed above, flow sensor 308 may be configured as acapacitance-based flow sensor (See FIGS. 5A-5F); as illustrated as flowsensor 1356 within FIG. 47E. Additionally and as discussed above, flowsensor 308 may be configured as a transducer-based, pistonless flowsensor (See FIG. 5G); as illustrated as flow sensor 1358 within FIG.47E. Further and as discussed above, flow sensor 308 may be configuredas a transducer-based, piston-enhanced flow sensor (See FIG. 5H); asillustrated as flow sensor 1359 within FIG. 47E.

As discussed above, transducer assembly 328 (See FIGS. 5G-5H) mayinclude: a linear variable differential transformer (LVDT); aneedle/magnetic cartridge assembly; a magnetic coil assembly; a HallEffect sensor assembly; a piezoelectric buzzer element; a piezoelectricsheet element; an audio speaker assembly; an accelerometer assembly; amicrophone assembly; and an optical displacement assembly.

Further, while the above-described examples of flow sensor 308 are meantto be illustrative, they are not intended to be exhaustive, as otherconfigurations are possible and are considered to be within the scope ofthis disclosure. For example, while transducer assembly 328 is shown tobe positioned outside of diaphragm assembly 314 (See FIG. 5G-5H),transducer assembly 328 may be positioned within chamber 318 (See FIG.5G-5H).

Referring also to FIGS. 49A, 49B, 49C, an exemplary configuration ofsupply 1206 of non-nutritive sweetener. Supply 1206 of non-nutritivesweetener may generally include housing 1400 configured to receivenon-nutritive sweetener container 1402. Non-nutritive sweetenercontainer 1402 may include, for example, a bag-in-box configuration(e.g., a flexible bag containing the non-nutritive sweetener disposedwithin a generally rigid, protective housing). Supply 1206 may includecoupling 1404 (e.g., which may be associated with pivotal wall 1406),which may fluidly couple to a fitment associated with non-nutritivecontainer 1402. The configuration and nature of coupling 1404 may varyaccording to the cooperating fitment associated with non-nutritivecontainer 1402.

Referring also to FIG. 49C, supply 1206 may include one or more pumpassemblies (e.g., pump assemblies 270 e, 270 f, 270 g, 270 h). The oneor more pump assemblies 270 e, 270 f, 270 g, 270 g may be configuredsimilar to the above-discussed product module assemblies (e.g., productmodule assemble 250). Coupling 1404 may be fluidly coupled to coupling1404 via plumbing assembly 1408. Plumbing assembly 1408 may generallyinclude inlet 1410, which may be configured to be fluidly connected tocoupling 1404. Manifold 1412 may distribute non-nutritive sweetenerreceived at inlet 1410 to one or more distribution tubes (e.g.,distribution tubes 1414, 1416, 1418, 1420). Distribution tubes 1414,1416, 1418, 1420 may include respective connectors 1422, 1424, 1426,1428 configured to be fluidly coupled to respective pump assemblies 270e, 270 f, 270 g, 270 g.

Referring now to FIG. 50, plumbing assembly 1408, in the exemplaryembodiments, includes an air sensor 1450. The plumbing assembly 1408thus includes a mechanism for sensing whether air is present. In someembodiments, if the fluid entering through the fluid inlet 1410 includesair, the air sensor 1450 will detect the air and, in some embodiments,may send a signal to stop pumping from the large volume microingredient.This function is desired in many dispensing systems, and particularly inones where if the volume of the large volume microingredient isincorrect, the dispensed product may be compromised and/or dangerous.Thus, the plumbing assembly 1408 including an air sensor assures air isnot pumped and in embodiments where medicinal products are dispensed,for example, is a safety feature. In other products, this embodiment ofthe plumbing assembly 1408 is part of a quality assurance feature.

While the various electrical components, mechanical components,electro-mechanical components, and software processes are describedabove as being utilized within a processing system that dispensesbeverages, this is for illustrative purposes only and is not intended tobe a limitation of this disclosure, as other configurations arepossible. For example, the above-described processing system may beutilized for processing/dispensing other consumable products (e.g., icecream and alcoholic drinks). Additionally, the above-described systemmay be utilized in areas outside of the food industry. For example, theabove-described system may be utilized for processing/dispensing:vitamins; pharmaceuticals; medical products, cleaning products;lubricants; painting/staining products; and other non-consumableliquids/semi-liquids/granular solids or any fluids.

As discussed above, the various electrical components, mechanicalcomponents, electro-mechanical components, and software processes ofprocessing system 10 generally (and FSM process 122, virtual machineprocess 124, and virtual manifold process 126 specifically) may be usedin any machine in which on-demand creation of a product from one or moresubstrates (also referred to as “ingredients”) is desired.

In the various embodiments, the product is created following a recipethat is programmed into the processor. As discussed above, the recipemay be updated, imported or changed by permission. A recipe may berequested by a user, or may be preprogrammed to be prepared on aschedule. The recipes may include any number of substrates oringredients and the product generated may include any number ofsubstrates or ingredients in any concentration desired.

The substrates used may be any fluid, at any concentration, or, anypowder or other solid that may be reconstituted either while the machineis creating the product or before the machine creates the product (i.e.,a “batch” of the reconstituted powder or solid may be prepared at aspecified time in preparation for metering to create additional productsor dispensing the “batch” solution as a product). In variousembodiments, two or more substrates may themselves be mixed in onemanifold, and then metered to another manifold to mix with additionalsubstrates.

Thus, in various embodiments, on demand, or prior to actual demand butat a desired time, a first manifold of a solution may be created bymetering into the manifold, according to the recipe, a first substrateand at least one additional substrate. In some embodiments, one of thesubstrates may be reconstituted, i.e., the substrate may be apowder/solid, a particular amount of which is added to a mixingmanifold. A liquid substrate may also be added to the same mixingmanifold and the powder substrate may be reconstituted in the liquid toa desired concentration. The contents of this manifold may then beprovided to e.g., another manifold or dispensed.

In some embodiments, the methods described herein may be used inconjunction with mixing on-demand dialysate, for use with peritonealdialysis or hemodialysis, according to a recipe/prescription. As isknown in the art, the composition of dialysate may include, but is notlimited to, one or more of the following: bicarbonate, sodium, calcium,potassium, chloride, dextrose, lactate, acetic acid, acetate, magnesium,glucose and hydrochloric acid.

The dialysate may be used to draw waste molecules (e.g., urea,creatinine, ions such as potassium, phosphate, etc.) and water from theblood into the dialysate through osmosis, and dialysate solutions arewell-known to those of ordinary skill in the art.

For example, a dialysate typically contains various ions such aspotassium and calcium that are similar to their natural concentration inhealthy blood. In some cases, the dialysate may contain sodiumbicarbonate, which is usually at a concentration somewhat higher thanfound in normal blood. Typically, the dialysate is prepared by mixingwater from a source of water (e.g., reverse osmosis or “RO” water) withone or more ingredients: e.g., an “acid” (which may contain variousspecies such as acetic acid, dextrose, NaCl, CaCl, KCl, MgCl, etc.),sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3), and/or sodium chloride (NaCl). Thepreparation of dialysate, including using the appropriate concentrationsof salts, osmolarity, pH, and the like, is also well-known to those ofordinary skill in the art. As discussed in detail below, the dialysateneed not be prepared in real-time, on-demand. For instance, thedialysate can be made concurrently or prior to dialysis, and storedwithin a dialysate storage vessel or the like.

In some embodiments, one or more substrates, for example, thebicarbonate, may be stored in powder form. Although for illustrative andexemplary purposes only, a powder substrate may be referred to in thisexample as “bicarbonate”, in other embodiments, anysubstrate/ingredient, in addition to, or instead of, bicarbonate, may bestored in a machine in powder form or as another solid and the processdescribed herein for reconstitution of the substrate may be used. Thebicarbonate may be stored in a “single use” container that, for example,may empty into a manifold. In some embodiments, a volume of bicarbonatemay be stored in a container and a particular volume of bicarbonate fromthe container may be metered into a manifold. In some embodiments, theentire volume of bicarbonate may be completely emptied into a manifold,i.e., to mix a large volume of dialysate.

The solution in the first manifold may be mixed in a second manifoldwith one or more additional substrates/ingredients. In addition, in someembodiments, one or more sensors (e.g., one or more conductivitysensors) may be located such that the solution mixed in the firstmanifold may be tested to ensure the intended concentration has beenreached. In some embodiments, the data from the one or more sensors maybe used in a feedback control loop to correct for errors in thesolution. For example, if the sensor data indicates the bicarbonatesolution has a concentration that is greater or less than the desiredconcentration, additional bicarbonate or RO may be added to themanifold.

In some recipes in some embodiments, one or more ingredients may bereconstituted in a manifold prior to being mixed in another manifoldwith one or more ingredients, whether those ingredients are alsoreconstituted powders/solids or liquids.

Thus, the system and methods described herein may provide a means foraccurate, on-demand production or compounding of dialysate, or othersolutions, including other solutions used for medical treatments. Insome embodiments, this system may be incorporated into a dialysismachine, such as those described in U.S. patent application Ser. No.12/072,908 filed on Feb. 27, 2008 and having a priority date of Feb. 27,2007 which are herein incorporated by reference in its entirety. Inother embodiments, this system may be incorporated into any machinewhere mixing a product, on-demand, may be desired.

Water may account for the greatest volume in dialysate, thus leading tohigh costs, space and time in transporting bags of dialysate. Theabove-described processing system 10 may prepare the dialysate in adialysis machine, or, in a stand-alone dispensing machine (e.g., on-siteat a patient's home), thus eliminating the need for shipping and storinglarge numbers of bags of dialysate. This above-described processingsystem 10 may provide a user or provider with the ability to enter theprescription desired and the above-described system may, using thesystems and methods described herein, produce the desired prescriptionon-demand and on-site (e.g., including but not limited to: a medicaltreatment center, pharmacy or a patient's home). Accordingly, thesystems and methods described herein may reduce transportation costs asthe substrates/ingredients are the only ingredient requiringshipping/delivery.

In addition to the various embodiments of the flow control modulesdiscussed and described above, referring to FIGS. 56-64, variousadditional embodiments of a variable line impendence, a flow measurementdevice (or sometimes referred to as “flow meter”) and a binary valve fora flow control module are shown.

Referring to FIGS. 56-59 collectively, the exemplary embodiment of thisembodiment of the flow control module 3000 may include a fluid inlet3001, a piston housing 3012, a primary orifice 3002, a piston 3004 apiston spring 3006, a cylinder 3005 about the piston and a secondaryorifice(s) 3022. The piston spring 3006 biases the piston 3004 in aclosed position, seen in FIG. 56. The flow control module 3000 alsoincludes a solenoid 3008 which includes a solenoid housing 3010 and anarmature 3014. A downstream binary valve 3016 is actuated by a plunger3018 which is biased in an open position by a plunger spring 3020.

The piston 3004, cylinder 3005, piston spring 3006 and piston housing3012 may be made from any material which, in some embodiments, may beselected based on the fluid intended to flow through the flow controlmodule. In the exemplary embodiment, the piston 3004 and the cylinder3005 are made from an alumina ceramic, however, in other embodiments,these components may be made form another ceramic or stainless steel. Invarious embodiments, these components may be made from any materialdesired and may be selected depending on the fluid. In the exemplaryembodiment, the piston spring 3006 is made from stainless steel,however, in various embodiments; the piston spring 3006 may be made froma ceramic or another material. In the exemplary embodiment, the pistonhousing 3012 is made from plastic. However, in other embodiments, thevarious parts may be made from stainless steel or any otherdimensionally stable, corrosion resistant material. Although as shown inFIGS. 56-59, the exemplary embodiment includes a binary valve, in someembodiments, the flow control module 3000 may not include a binaryvalve. In these embodiments, the cylinder 3005 and the piston 3004,where in the exemplary embodiment, as discussed above, are made fromalumina ceramic, may be match ground to a free running fit, or may bemanufactured to impart a very tight clearance between the two componentsto provide a close, free running fit.

The solenoid 3008 in the exemplary embodiment is a constant forcesolenoid 3008. In the exemplary embodiments, the constant force solenoid3008 shown in FIGS. 56-59 may be used. The solenoid 3008 includes asolenoid housing 3010 which, in the exemplary embodiment, is made from416 stainless steel. In the exemplary embodiment, the constant forcesolenoid 3008 includes a spike. In this embodiment, as the armature 3014approaches the spikes, the force roughly constant and minimally variantwith respect to position. The constant force solenoid 3008 exertsmagnetic force onto the armature 3014, which, in the exemplaryembodiment, is made from 416 stainless steel. In some embodiments thearmature 3014 and/or the solenoid housing 3012 may be made from aferritic stainless steel or any other magnetic stainless steel or othermaterial having desirable magnetic properties. The armature 3014 isconnected to the piston 3004. Thus, the constant force solenoid 3008provides force to linearly move the piston 3004 from a closed position(shown in FIGS. 56 and 57) to an open position (shown in FIGS. 58 and59) with respect to the secondary orifice(s) 3022. Thus, the solenoid3008 actuates the piston 3004 and the current applied to control theconstant force solenoid 3008 is proportional to the force exerted on thearmature 3014.

The size of the primary orifice 3002 may be selected so that the maximumpressure drop for the system is not exceeded and such that the pressureacross the primary orifice 3002 is significant enough to move the piston3004. In the exemplary embodiment, the primary orifice 3002 is about0.180 inch. However, in various embodiments, the diameter may be largeror smaller depending on the desired flow rate and pressure drop.Additionally, obtaining the maximum pressure drop at a particular flowrate minimizes the total amount of travel by the piston 3004 to maintaina desired flow rate.

The constant force solenoid 3008 and the piston spring 3006 exertroughly a constant force over piston 3004 travel. The piston spring 3006acts on the piston 3004 in the same direction as the fluid flow. Apressure drop occurs upon the entrance of fluid through the primaryorifice 3002. The constant force solenoid 3008 (also referred to as a“solenoid”) counters the fluid pressure by exerting force on thearmature 3014.

Referring now to FIG. 56, the flow control module 3000 is shown in aclosed position, with no fluid flow. In the closed position, thesolenoid 3008 is de-energized. The piston spring 3006 biases the piston3004 to the closed position, i.e., the secondary orifice(s) (shown inFIGS. 58-59 as 3022) are fully closed. This is beneficial for manyreasons, including, but not limited to, a fail safe flow switch in theevent the flow control module 3000 experiences a loss of power. Thus,when power is not available to energize the solenoid 3008, the piston3004 will move to “normally closed” state.

Referring also to FIGS. 57-59, the energy or current applied to thesolenoid 3008 controls the movement of the armature 3014 and the piston3004. As the piston 3004 moves further towards the fluid inlet 3001,this opens the secondary orifice(s) 3022. Thus, the current applied tothe solenoid 3008 may be proportional to the force exerted on thearmature 3014 and the current applied to the solenoid 3008 may be variedto obtain a desired flow rate. In the exemplary embodiment of thisembodiment of the flow control module the flow rate corresponds to thecurrent applied to the solenoid 3008; as current is applied the force onthe piston 3004 increases.

To maintain a constant force profile on the solenoid 3008, it may bedesirable to maintain the travel of the armature 3014 roughly within apredefined area. As discussed above, the spike in the solenoid 3008contribute to the maintenance of near constant force as the armature3014 travels. This is desirable in some embodiments for when thesecondary orifice(s) 3022 are open, maintaining near constant force willmaintain a near constant flow rate.

As the force from the solenoid 3008 increases, in the exemplaryembodiment, the force from the solenoid 3008 moves the piston 3004linearly towards the fluid inlet 3001 to initiate flow through thesecondary orifice(s) 3022. This causes the fluid pressure within theflow control module to decrease. Thus, the primary orifice 3002 (linkedto the piston 3004), together with the secondary orifice(s) 3022, act asa flow meter and variable line impedance; the pressure drop across theprimary orifice 3002 (which is in indicator of flow rate) remainsconstant through varying the cross sectional areas of the secondaryorifice(s) 3022. The flow rate, i.e., the pressure differential acrossthe primary orifice 3002, dictates the amount of movement of the piston3004, i.e., the variable line impedance of the fluid path.

Referring now to FIGS. 58-59, in the exemplary embodiment, the variableline impedance includes at least one secondary orifice 3022. In someembodiments, for example, the embodiments shown in FIGS. 58-59, thesecondary orifice 3022 includes multiple apertures. Embodimentsincluding multiple apertures may be desirable as they allow forstructural integrity maintenance and minimize piston travel whileproviding a total secondary orifice size sufficient for a desired flowrate at a maximum pressure drop.

Referring to FIGS. 56-59, to equalize pressure that may be introduced byblow-by during operation, in the exemplary embodiment, the piston 3004includes at least one radial groove 3024. In the exemplary embodiment,the piston 3004 includes two radial grooves 3024. In other embodiments,the piston 3004 may include three or more radial grooves. The at leastone radial groove 3024 provides both a means for equalizing the pressurefrom the blow-by, thus, centering the piston 3004 in the cylinder 3005which may reduce blow-by. Centering of the piston 3004 may also providea hydrodynamic bearing effect between the cylinder 3005 and the piston3004 thus reducing friction. In some embodiments, any other means forreducing friction may be used, which include, but are not limited to,coating the piston 3004 to reduce friction. Coatings which may be usedinclude, but are not limited to diamond-like-coating (“DLC”) andtitanium nitride. Reducing friction is beneficial for reduction ofhysteresis in the system thus reducing flow control errors in thesystem.

In the exemplary embodiment, for a given variable line impedance device,the current as well as the method of applying the current to yield agiven flow rate may be determined. The various modes of applying thecurrent include, but are not limited to, dithering the current,sinusoidal dither, dither scheduling the current or using various PulseWidth Modulation (“PWM”) techniques. Current control may be used toproduce various flow rates and various flow types, for example, but notlimited, to, choppy or pulsatile flow rates or smooth flow rates. Forexample, sinusoidal dithering may be used to reduce hysteresis andfriction between the cylinder 3005 and the piston 3004. Thus,predetermined schedules may be determined and used for a given desiredflow rate.

Referring now to FIG. 64, an example of a solenoid control method whichmay be applied to the variable line impedance device shown in FIGS.56-63 is shown. In this control method, a dither function is shown thatapplies lower amplitude dither at low flow rates and higher amplitudedither at as the flow rates increase. The dither may be specified eitheras a step function, where dither may increase at a specified threshold,or as a ramp function, which may become constant above a specifiedthreshold. FIG. 64 shows an example of a dither ramp function. Bothdither frequency and dither amplitude may be varied with the currentcommand. In some embodiments, the dither function may be replaced by alookup table that specified optimal dither characteristics or otherdither scheduling for any desired flow rate.

Upstream fluid pressure may increase or decrease. However, the variableline impedance compensates for pressure changes and maintains theconstant desired flow rate through use of the constant force solenoid,together with the spring and the plunger. Thus, the variable lineimpedance maintains a constant flow rate even under variable pressure.For example, when the inlet pressure increases, because the systemincludes a fixed sized primary orifice 3002, the pressure drop acrossthe primary orifice 3002 will cause the piston 3004 to move toward thefluid outlet 3036 and “turn down” the opening of the secondaryorifice(2) 3022. This is accomplished through linear movement of thepiston 3004 towards the fluid outlet 3036.

Conversely, when the inlet pressure decreases, because the system has afixed sized primary orifice 3002, the pressure drop across the primaryorifice 3002 will cause the piston 3004 to “turn up” the opening of thesecondary orifice(s) 3022 thus keeping flowrate constant. This isaccomplished through linear movement of the piston 3004 towards thefluid inlet 3001.

The exemplary embodiment also includes a binary valve. Although shown inthe exemplary embodiment, in some embodiments, a binary valve may not beused, for example, where the tolerances between the piston and thesecondary orifice are such that the piston may act as a binary valve tothe secondary orifice. Referring now to FIGS. 56-59, the binary valve inthe exemplary embodiment is downstream from the secondary orifice 3022.In the exemplary embodiment, the binary valve is a piloted diaphragm3016 actuated by a plunger 3018. In the exemplary embodiment, thediaphragm 3016 is an over molded metal disc, however, in otherembodiments, the diaphragm 3016 may be made from any material suitablefor the fluid flowing through the valve, which may include, but is notlimited to, metals, elastomers and/or urethanes or any type of plasticor other material suitable for the desired function. It should be notedthat although the Figures illustrate the membrane seated in the openposition, in practice, the membrane would be unseated. The plunger 3018is directly actuated by the piston 3004 and in its resting position; theplunger spring 3020 biases the plunger 3018 in the open position. As thepiston 3004 returns to a closed position, the force generated by thepiston spring 3006 is great enough to overcome to plunger spring 3020bias and actuate the plunger 3018 to the closed position of the binaryvalve. Thus, in the exemplary embodiment, the solenoid provides theenergy for both the piston 3004 and the plunger 3018, thus, controlsboth the flow of fluid through the secondary orifice 3022 and throughthe binary valve.

Referring to FIGS. 56-59, the progressive movement of the piston 3004may be seen with respect to increased force from the solenoid 3008.Referring to FIG. 56, both the binary valve and the secondary orifice(not shown) are closed. Referring to FIG. 57, current has been appliedto the solenoid and the piston 3004 has moved slightly, while the binaryvalve is open due to the plunger spring 3020 bias. In FIG. 58, thesolenoid 3008 having applied additional current, the piston 3004 hasmoved further to primary orifice 3002 and has opened the secondaryorifice 3022 slightly. Referring now to FIG. 59, increased current fromthe solenoid 3008 has moved the piston 3004 further towards the fluidinlet 3001 (or further into the solenoid 3008 in this embodiment), andthe secondary orifice 3022 is fully open.

The embodiments described above with respect to FIGS. 56-59 mayadditionally include one or more sensors, which may include one or more,but not limited to, the following: a piston position sensor and/or aflow sensor. One or more sensors may be used to verify that fluid flowis established when the solenoid 3008 is energized. A piston positionsensor, for example, may detect whether or not the piston is moving ornot. A flow sensor may detect whether the piston is moving or notmoving.

Referring now to FIGS. 60-61, in various embodiments, the flow controlmodule 3000 may include one or more sensors. Referring to FIG. 60, theflow control module 3000 is shown with an anemometer 3026. In oneembodiment, one or more thermistor(s) are located in close proximity toa thin wall contacting the fluid path. The thermistor(s) may dissipate aknown power amount, e.g., 1 Watt, and thus, a predictable temperatureincrease may be expected for either stagnant fluid or flowing fluid. Asthe temperature will increase slower where fluid is flowing, theanemometer may be used as a fluid flow sensor. In some embodiments, theanemometer may also be used to determine the temperature of the fluid,whether or not the sensor is additionally detecting the presence offluid flow.

Referring now to FIG. 61, the flow control module 3000 is shown with apaddle wheel 3028. A cut-away view of the paddle wheel sensor 3030 isshown in FIG. 62. The paddle wheel sensor 3030 includes a paddle wheel3028 within the fluid path, an Infrared (“IR”) emitter 3032 and an IRreceiver 3034. The paddle wheel sensor 3030 is a metering device and maybe used to calculate and/or confirm flow rate. The paddle wheel sensor3030 may, in some embodiments, be used to simply sense whether fluid isflowing or not. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 62, the IR diode 3032shines and as fluid flows, the paddle wheel 3028 turns, interrupting thebeam from IR diode 3032, which is detected by the IR receiver 3034. Therate of interruption of the IR beam may be used to calculate flow rate.

As shown in FIGS. 56-59, in some embodiments, more than one sensor maybe used in the flow control module 3000. In these embodiments, both ananemometer sensor and a paddle wheel sensor are shown. While, in otherembodiments, either the paddle wheel (FIG. 61) or the anemometer (FIG.60) sensor is used. However, in various other embodiments, one or moredifferent sensors may be used to detect, calculate or sense variousconditions of the flow control module 3000. For example, but not limitedto, in some embodiments, a Hall Effect sensor may be added to themagnetic circuit of the solenoid 3010 to sense flux.

In some embodiments, the inductance in the coil of the solenoid 3008 maybe calculated to determine the position of the piston 3004. In thesolenoid 3008 in the exemplary embodiment, reluctance varies witharmature 3014 travel. The inductance may be determined or calculatedfrom the reluctance and thus, the position of the piston 3004 may becalculated based on the calculated inductance. In some embodiments, theinductance may be used to control the movement of the piston 3004 viathe armature 3014.

Referring now to FIG. 63, one embodiment of the flow control module 3000is shown. This embodiment of the flow control module 3000 may be used inany of the various embodiments of the dispensing system describedherein. Further, the variable flow impedance mechanism may be used inplace of the various variable flow impendence embodiments describedabove. Further, in various embodiments, the flow control module 3000 maybe used in conjunction with a downstream or upstream flow meter.

Referring to FIG. 65, the fluid path is indicated through one embodimentof the flow control module 3000. In this embodiment, the flow controlmodule 3000 includes both a paddle wheel 3028 sensor and an anemometer3026. However, as discussed above, some embodiments of the flow controlmodule 3000 may include additional sensors or less sensors than shown inFIG. 65.

As discussed above, other examples of such products producible byprocessing system 10 may include but are not limited to: dairy-basedproducts (e.g., milkshakes, floats, malts, frappes); coffee-basedproducts (e.g., coffee, cappuccino, espresso); soda-based products(e.g., floats, soda w/fruit juice); tea-based products (e.g., iced tea,sweet tea, hot tea); water-based products (e.g., spring water, flavoredspring water, spring water w/vitamins, high-electrolyte drinks,high-carbohydrate drinks); solid-based products (e.g., trail mix,granola-based products, mixed nuts, cereal products, mixed grainproducts); medicinal products (e.g., infusible medicants, injectablemedicants, ingestible medicants); alcohol-based products (e.g., mixeddrinks, wine spritzers, soda-based alcoholic drinks, water-basedalcoholic drinks); industrial products (e.g., solvents, paints,lubricants, stains); and health/beauty aid products (e.g., shampoos,cosmetics, soaps, hair conditioners, skin treatments, topicalointments).

A number of implementations have been described. Nevertheless, it willbe understood that various modifications may be made. Accordingly, otherimplementations are within the scope of the following claims.

While the principles of the invention have been described herein, it isto be understood by those skilled in the art that this description ismade only by way of example and not as a limitation as to the scope ofthe invention. Other embodiments are contemplated within the scope ofthe present invention in addition to the exemplary embodiments shown anddescribed herein. Modifications and substitutions by one of ordinaryskill in the art are considered to be within the scope of the presentinvention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A flow sensor comprising: a fluid chamberconfigured to receive a fluid micro-ingredient from a product container;a diaphragm assembly configured to be displaced whenever the fluidmicro-ingredient within the fluid chamber is displaced; a transducerassembly configured to monitor the displacement of the diaphragmassembly and generate a signal based, at least in part, upon thequantity of fluid micro-ingredient displaced within the fluid chamber;and a control logic subsystem in communication with a the transducerassembly configured to received the signal from the transducer, whereinthe control logic subsystem determines, based on the signal, whether theproduct container contains a volume of fluid micro-ingredient or whetherthe product container is empty.
 2. The flow sensor of claim 1, whereinthe transducer assembly comprising a linear variable differentialtransformer coupled to the diaphragm assembly by a linkage assembly. 3.The flow sensor of claim 1, wherein the transducer assembly comprising aneedle/magnet cartridge assembly.
 4. The flow sensor of claim 1, whereinthe transducer assembly comprising a magnetic coil assembly.
 5. The flowsensor of claim 1, wherein the transducer assembly comprising a HallEffect sensor assembly.
 6. The flow sensor of claim 1, wherein thetransducer assembly comprising a piezoelectric buzzer element.
 7. Theflow sensor of claim 1, wherein the transducer assembly comprising apiezoelectric sheet element.
 8. The flow sensor of claim 1, wherein thetransducer assembly comprising an audio speaker assembly.
 9. The flowsensor of claim 1, wherein the transducer assembly comprising anaccelerometer assembly.
 10. The flow sensor of claim 1, wherein thetransducer assembly comprising a microphone assembly.
 11. The flowsensor of claim 1, wherein the transducer assembly comprising an opticaldisplacement assembly.
 12. The flow sensor of claim 1, wherein thecontrol logic subsystem configured to ascertain the quantity of fluidmicro-ingredient passing through the chamber.
 13. A method fordetermining a product container is empty comprising: energizing a pumpassembly; pumping a micro-ingredient from a product container;displacing a capacitive plate a displacement distance; measuring thecapacitance of a capacitor; calculating the displacement distance fromthe measured capacitance; and determining whether the product containeris empty.
 14. A method for determining a product container is emptycomprising: energizing a pump assembly; displacing a diaphragm assemblya displacement distance by pumping a micro-ingredient from a productcontainer; measuring the displacement distance using a transducerassembly; using the transducer assembly generating a signal based, atleast in part, upon the quantity of micro-ingredient pumped from theproduct container; and determining, using the signal, whether theproduct container is empty.